Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) are two aviation core tools regulated by aerospace standard AS9145.
APQP is an organized approach to product and process design. This approach is a standardized set of quality requirements designed for suppliers to allow them to design a product that meets customer’s needs.
APQP was designed to assure that the needs of the customer are clearly understood, translated into requirements, technical specifications and special characteristics. The APQP was developed to create a proactive structured approach for the product development processes used throughout the aviation, space and defense industries.
This process ensures that industries have fully integrated processes; extending from concept and design to manufacturing process, into product use, service and customer feedback.
PPAP on the other hand, defines the approval process for new or revised parts, and also parts produced from new or revised production methods. PPAP is a standardized process in aerospace industries that helps manufacturers and suppliers communicate and approve production designs and processes before, during and after manufacture.
The PPAP manual specifies guidelines and examples documents to help complete the process requirements. The PPAP is an output of APQP, and was created to ensure that the production process produces products that consistently meet customers’ requirements.
The APQP process includes a PPAP. This process allows suppliers to show that their production process is consistent and capable of producing products that meet customer requirements.
PPAP is required by many aerospace customers, and has been for several years. Customers include Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems, etc.
Combined with PPAP an APQP assures that manufacturing process functions are clearly defined, planned, validated, documented and communicated, and in return result in:
- Reduced process variation
- Statistically controlled processes
- Enhanced customer confidence in supplier’s capabilities
- Consistent quality and delivery
Want to learn more? Tonex offers AS9145, APQP and PPAP Workshop, a 3-day course where participants learn about requirements for AS9145, Advanced Product Quality Planning and Production Part Approval Process.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.