Ohne Titel

APQP Methodology

Pre-Planning

Plan and Define

Product Design and Development

Process Design and Development

Product and Process Validation

Feedback Assessment and Corrective Action

APQP begins with assumptions, concepts and past knowledge. Bookshelf knowledge and standard work practices are listed as well as areas where significant change is expected. This section compiles the inputs into Section 1 – Plan and Define.

Section 1 links customer expectations, wants, needs and desires to requirements. Plan Development will assure the output of this section is satisfactory product quality. Resource planning, process and product assumptions are made. A list of preliminary special characteristics and design / reliability goals are also established.

The focus in Section 2 is on product design and development. Geometry, design features, details, tolerances and refinement of special characteristics are all reviewed in a formal Design Review. Design verification through prototypes and testing are also part of this section. Tools which typically provide great benefit in this section are DFM/M, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R).

Section 3 explores manufacturing techniques and measurement methods that will be used to bring the design engineer’s vision into reality. Process Flow Charts, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) and Control Plan Methodology are examples of tools used in this section.

Validation of the process quality and volume capabilities is the focus of Section 4. Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) and Process Capability Studies are introduced in this section. Product Part Approval Process (PPAP) is ready for submission and production begins upon approval.

Section 5 explores learnings from the ongoing manufacturing process, RPN reduction, corrective actions (both internal and external), Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) and the capture of information pertinent for future use.

APQP is used in 2 ways:

1. New Product Introduction (NPI) Support

2. Product or Process Change (Post Release):