The automotive industry describes its approach to product development and manufacturing in the advanced product quality planning (APQP) process.

Next year, the EU enters the next phase of automotive emissions standards under the current regulation, Euro 6. Average CO₂ emissions of new cars must be a maximum of 95 grams per kilometer under real driving conditions.

The story I am going to relate is true. However, since it is not very flattering, it has been sanitized to prevent finger-pointing. I’m telling this story because you may find yourself in the same circumstances when managing your supply chain, especially one distributed across the globe.

Of the many steps in the process of assembling a wire harness, testing the crimped terminal is a crucial one. If the terminal hasn't been properly attached to the end of the wire, it can cause the wire and eventually the entire wire harness to fail. Most manufacturers use pull testing to assess crimped connections and ensure that terminals are properly attached.