Defining The Advanced Product Quality Planning Information Technology Essay
| ✅ Paper Type: Free Essay | ✅ Subject: Information Technology |
| ✅ Wordcount: 5193 words | ✅ Published: 1st Jan 2015 |
Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) is a structured method for defining and executing the actions necessary to ensure a product satisfies the customer along with cost and time. APQP is required of all vehicle, system, subsystem and component manufacturing locations.
1.2 Goal
The goal of APQP is to facilitate communication with all persons involved in a programme and ensure that all required steps are completed on time, at acceptable cost and quality levels.
1.3 Purpose
The purpose of this guideline is to establish:
Common APQP expectations for all M&M activities.
Common APQP process metrics.
Common APQP deliverables.
A common programme status-reporting format.
Lead and Support roles and responsibilities for each APQP Element.
1.4 Approach
APQP emphasise on Up-front planning, First three part of the P-D-C-A cycle are devoted to up-front product quality planning through product / Process Validation. The Act of implementation, the fourth part is the stage where the importance of evaluating the output serves two functions; to determine if customers are satisfied, and to support the pursuit of continuous improvement.
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This guideline focuses on 23 key APQP elements. Definitions, expectations, and deliverables for these elements are identified in Section 5.0 APQP Element Description of this guideline. The status for these disciplines is summarized on the APQP Status Report. This guideline provides a management tool for follow-up and timely completion of all 23 APQP Elements.
1.5 Applicability
APQP status reporting is a requirement of all M&M activities and must be applied to the following:
New Product launch/ relaunch.
Changed/ modified product launch.
Launch of a new manufacturing site.
Significant process changes (new facilities/ toolings).
High impact suppliers.
Carry over issues.
Part Submission Warrant (PSW) requirement as per the MQS Mahindra Production Part Approval Process Manual.
2.0 APQP Fundamentals
2.1 Teams
The first step in the Advanced Product Quality Planning Process is to assign lead responsibility for every APQP Element. This leader establishes a cross-functional team to complete the element requirements on time. Effective Product Quality Planning requires a cross-functional team including representatives from Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Plants, Purchasing, Quality, Field Service, Sales, Suppliers, and Customers, as appropriate.
2.2 Elements
This guideline focuses on 23 Key APQP disciplines, identified as APQP elements. These elements, when summarized and reported, communicate the quality planning status of a programme.
2.3 Adjustments
If the programme is considered to be low risk, the APQP leader may skip certain APQP elements. For example, if the product is carry-over with minor changes, existing control plans can be used and/ or packaging evaluations may not be required. The cross-functional team must agree to all deviations from the APQP process. If the team agrees that an element is not required, the function should write “N/A” for “not applicable” in the remarks section of the APQP Status Report (Annexure 1).
2.4 Roles & Responsibilities
The APQP Lead/Support Responsibilities are documented in Section 5.0 APQP Element Description, of this guideline.
2.5 APQP Elements in MPDS
The alignment of APQP elements is done using the timing plan of the Mahindra Product Development System (MPDS).
2.6 APQP Process Flow
Figure 2 shows the generic APQP Process Flow
Figure 1
APQP TIMING PLAN
MPDS Gateways
SI : Strategic Intent
SC : Strategic Confirmation
PA : Programme Approval
VV: Virtual Validation
PC : Programme Confirmation
PR : Product Readiness
PP : Production Prove-out
SO : Sign Off
LR : Launch Readiness
J1 : Job 1
FS : Final Status
SI
J 1
FS
PC
PR
PP
SO
LR
SC
PA
VV
Figure 2 : Generic Process Flow – APQP
End
GREEN
YELLOW/RED
Risk Assessment Y/R
APQP
Assessment
Green
APQP Status G/Y/R
Major Review Meeting including APQP Assessment Results
Start APQP Reporting
Initiate APQP Process
Management
establishes cross-functional team
Criteria for APQP
Start
3.0 The APQP Status Report
3.1 Purpose
The APQP Status Report summarises the status for the 23 APQP elements. The status report facilitates communication between Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Plants etc. It also provides a dated record that future programmes for reference.
3.2 Status Reporting Responsibility
For each of the 23 elements, there is a lead responsibility defined. This lead function obtains the necessary input/support from other affected functions and consolidates it into a G/Y/R (Green/Yellow/Red) status (per element) on the APQP status report form.(MQS/APQP/F01)
Reporting Requirements
The Project Team consolidates the APQP status report and present summary to senior management at all major Programme Reviews/ Gateways. Action plan is prepared for all Yellow & Red status.
Ratings and Assessment
4.1 G Y R Status
Green-Yellow-Red status communicates the progress toward the successful project completion of elements by the program need date. Program need date is the last possible date an element can be completed and not adversely affect quality, cost or timing of the program. The “GYR Status” column of the report shows the assessment for each element.Definitions/Risk factors for Red, Yellow, and Green are listed in the table below.
Risk
Colour
Definition
High
Red
Target dates and/or elements are at risk. A recovery Action Plan is not available and/or implemented, or the Action Plan does not achieve program targets. Late on time.
Moderate
Yellow
Target dates and/or elements are at risk, but a recovery Action Plan has been developed to achieve program targets, and has been approved by the appropriate Project Team. Target date can be met with management support.
Low
Green
Target dates and elements are on track and meeting objectives.
Each element shall be supported by relevant documented evidence like reports, circular, filled format, quality documents, scanned signoff copy etc. For this purpose MQS & PQO recommends the use of appropriate softwares like Excel, Word, Power point, MS Project, etc with hyperlinks to the document.
Any item once become red will remain red & Yellow/Green will be superimposed appropriately to show latest status.
4.2 The 8 Focus Elements :
For all 23 elements, quality expectations are defined in this Guideline. Out of the 23 elements, the following 8 elements are considered as Focus Elements :
Design FMEA
Design Verification Plan
Prototype Build Control Plan
Manufacturing Process Flow Chart
Process FMEA
Pre-Launch Control Plan
Operator Process Instructions
Production Control Plan
These elements when completed with Quality and On Time lay the foundation for Programme success.
The 8 Focus Elements are assessed for Quality of Event using Focus Element Rating Checklist.
4.3 Status Report Descriptions :
Build Level : Indicates the level of Build such as Engineering Prototype, Verification Prototype, Production Trial Run, Job # 1, etc.
PIST : Percentage of Inspection points that satisfy Specified Tolerance (all points).
PIPC : Percentage of Indices which are Process Capable (Percentage of Critical & Significant Characteristics with Pp & Ppk greater than or equal to 1.67 for the pre-production phase and Cp and Cpk greater than or equal to 1.33 for production phase).
SC & CC (Special Characteristics) : All products and processes have features described by characteristics which are important and need to be controlled. However, some characteristics called special characteristics require extra efforts to minimise the risk of potential adverse consequences.
Special Characteristics consist of –
1. Critical Characteristics are those product or process requirements that affect compliance with government regulation or safe vehicle/ product function AND which require special actions/ controls.
Product or process requirements can include dimension, specification, tests, processes, assembly sequences, tooling, joints, torques, welds, attatchments, component usage etc.
Symbol : Severity Rating : 9 or 10 for any occurrence rating.
2. Significant Characteristics are those product, process, and/ or test requirements which are important for customer satisfaction AND for which Quality Planning actions must be summarised on a Control Plan.
Symbol : Severity Rating : 5 to 8 Occurrence Rating : 5 and above
For further details please refer Charachteristics Classification Guideline,
MQS/CC&SC/GL01
5.0 APQP Element Description Description DescriptionThe following pages include an in-depth view of the 23 APQP elements. Each element is split into six separate areas. These areas are :
Definition – identifies the motivation behind the element.
Expectations – defines the requirements for the element.
Lead Responsibility – identifies the function responsible for lead reporting . Identifies function that all others will support in completion of the element.
Support function – identifies the support functions that will provide input to the Lead Responsibility.
Timing – Identifies the initial and final Gateway timing for the element with respect to Total Project Work Plan (TPWP).
Deliverables – indicates the items that must be completed during time frames specified for the element.
Sourcing Decision is a formal customer commitment to work on a timely basis with internal and external suppliers on the programme.
The Sourcing Decision is completed and communicated to internal and external suppliers before the Programme Need Date.
The sourcing need dates for all components, systems and vehicles are established.
Project Team/CFT for in-house sourced components / aggregates.
Material Management.(MM)
Supplier Upgradation
Product Development
Strategic Sourcing
Manufacturing Plant
Manufacturing Engineering
Initiate Milestone < PA >
Finalise Milestone < VV >
Establish a Timing Plan for completion of Sourcing Decisions.
Start communication with potential in-house manufacturers for “make parts” and with suppliers for “buy” parts.
Identify long -lead items (i.e. sourcing for new facilities, implementation of single sourcing strategies for Assembly Plants, etc.)
Evaluate the percent of completion for the Sourcing Decision Element at the beginning of each month between < PA> and Sourcing Decision for long-lead items is completed and communicated.
Open issues are identified and agreed upon by Project Team/CFT .
The Soucing Decision is completed and communicated.
The Customer Input Requirements Element is used to initiate the Quality Planning process through identification of design criteria and programme requirements.
Quality Function Deployment, (QFD) is one of the mechanisms to generate the Customer Input Requirements.
Design goals (specified through customer survey) are translated into tentative and measurable design objectives.
The Project Team/CFT must receive initial system and component designs and specifications from R&D Centre including
– Product Assumptions
Functional Performance
Weight
Material
Reliability and Quality goals are established based on
Prior model product and process concern history
Customer wants and expectations
Programme objectives
Reliability bench-marks
The reliability and quality goals must include the following:
Useful life Reliability Targets
Warranty Targets ( R/1000)
Incoming quality targets (parts per million, defect levels, scrap rates)
Functional Targets
Note: The above targets should be supplied as appropriate to the system, subsystem, or component.
The Programme Timing Plan is established to meet the customer needs and expectations by identifying the Timing Requirements for the following:
Tasks
Assignments
Events
Programme Timing Date must be communicated for the following:
Programme status reviews
APQP Plans
Design Freeze
2Prototype builds
In Plant Dates
Job #1
Affordable cost targets have been communicated for the vehicle, system, sub-system and components.
Capacity Planning volumes have been provided to the supplier (external and internal)
A list for Key Contact Personnel within M&M – the Project Owner, Project Manager, Design Leader, Manufacturing Engineering Leader, Launch Leader, MM Leader, Supplier Upgradation Leader and others as appropriate – is established. The list should include name, location, e-mail address and phone number.
Product Development
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
MM
Marketing
Project Team/CFT
Assembly Plant assigns a Launch Manager to support all necessary activities at the Finalise Milestone Establish Plans to develop:
Design goals
Reliability and Quality goals
Programme Timing
Cost Targets
Capacity Planning Volume
– Key Contact Personnel
2The Programme Steering Team recognizes and supports the criteria identified in the expectations.
A manufacturing strategy is identified and available.
The preliminary Product and Business Targets are defined in sufficient detail to initiate Engineering projects at the The Programme Core Team is identified.
Resources are identified and committed by all affected functions.
The Total Programme Work Plan (TPWP) is developed and agreed upon by the Programme Core Team including APQP deliverables.
The manufacturing requirements (must/ wants) are available, consolidated and submitted to the Programme Core Team.
Objectives, Targets and Plans for the above desired expectations are completed, confirmed and communicated to all sources and planning activities.
The TPWP (including APQP deliverables) is signed off.
A Design or Concept FMEA is a systematic approach (used by the design responsible team) which assures that potential design failure modes and associated causes are considered and addressed.
DFMEAs are led by Product Engineering, prepared with a cross-functional team, and follow the guidelines laid down in the MQS FMEA Manual.
DFMEAs prepare for new product features, technologies, and product development quality concerns unresolved during the previous model lifetime.
DFMEAs are essential in developing Prototype Build Control Plans and the Manufacturing P/ FMEAs.
Unanticipated failure modes encountered during design verification testing must be addressed in the D/ FMEA.
Potential Special Characteristics Product Development
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Customer Care
Initiate Milestone Initial
Establish a list of Concepts, Systems, Sub-systems etc on which DFMEA needs to be conducted and write out a DFMEA Timing Plan.
Intermediate
Review percentage of DFMEA completion at all Milestones between 100% of the DFMEAs are complete and all necessary actions to minimise quality risks are implemented.
Potential 4 Design Reviews
Design Reviews are regularly scheduled meetings led by the design responsible activity and must include any affected areas, such as, Manufacturing Engineering, Plant personnel etc. The review process includes the following:
A series of verification activities that are more than engineering inspection.
An effective method to prevent problems and misunderstandings.
Provide a mechanism to monitor progress and report to the management (including the review of APQP open issues)
The Design Feasibility concerns are resolved in time to support each build In-Plant Date.
Review the progress of the Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R)). Unanticipated failure modes encountered during design verification testing must be addressed in the DFMEA.
Review any open APQP issues.
Review the progress toward achieving reliability, quality, cost and timing targets.
Product Development
Support Functions
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Customer Care
MM
Timing
Initiate Milestone Finalize Milestone Develop a Design Review Plan.
Define roles and responsibilities
Develop a Design Review work plan one month prior to the initial Design Review
4
Evaluate the progress of DVP&Rs
Review the significant and critical characteristics identified in the Engineering Specifications.
Concerns are identified at each Milestone from 100% of the open design issues are resolved
The Project Team/CFT present the lessons learned from the Programme.
For further details please refer Design Review Guideline,
5Design Verification Plan &Report
The Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R) is a document listing the engineering evaluations, tests, and reports required to establish a design fit for use in the intended environment and meets the customer driven objectives and the intent with which the product / process was designed. The design verification plan has a correlation with the Customer Input Requirement.
The DVP&R is a team approach
Identification of specific tests, methods, equipment, acceptance criteria, sample sizes, design level and timing must be contained in the DVP&R.
Tests must include variation within tolerance on team selected product characteristics.
The Design Verification must include:
Test requirements for design, material, or manufacturing process that apply to the production trial.
Tests, which address for the customer usage profile and duty cycle.
Tests which address the useful life of the product.
Tests which address the effects of the external environment (climate, road surface conditions etc)
Tests which address the effects of physical interfaces between components or systems.
Product & Reliability Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Customer Care
Support Functions have skilled personnel assigned to review and confirm the DVP&R results and specification settings for significant and critical characteristics.
Design Verification Plans and Reports are used for the following schedules,
Development Prototypes.
Product Validation.
Product Life Cycle.
5Design Verification Plans and Reports include the following tests
Engineering Development Tests: Performed during product design for functional development, for detecting time dependent failures.
Design Verification Tests : Performed to demonstrate that the design samples meeting production intent environmental, functional, reliability and durability requirements
Production Validation Tests: Performed to demonstrate that the design samples from the production environment meet all requirements similar to Design Verification tests and assure that no adverse variables have been introduced.
Continuous Conformance Tests: Performed on an on going basis to assure contained compliance to all Product &Process requirements.
Initial Gateway Finalize Gateway Develop the DVP&R and appropriate review process
The DVP&R is complete and the identified metrics enable comparison with target metrics at Engineering Prototype review.
DVP&R is updated and a draft of the Engineering specification is available as per MPDS Guideline.
The DVP&R is complete in order to support the Verification Prototype (VP) builds.
All Engineering specifications, up to and including job #1 design level are confirmed and released.
All verification and validation tests are completed.
The Subcontractor APQP Status identifies and reports on the condition of an external Supplier or Subcontractor’s APQP process. It is required of Supplier to cascade APQP requirements to their suppliers or subcontractors and conduct APQP reviews as appropriate. The results of these reviews are summarised on the APQP Status Report.
All suppliers must assess risk and specify the level of their suppliers APQP participation.
Subcontractors that affect significant and critical characteristics must follow all APQP disciplines.
Suppliers will allocate sufficient resources to work with their subcontractors as part of the cross-functional APQP effort.
Suppliers will hold regularly scheduled APQP status reviews with their subcontractors.
Concerns are reported to the customer and action plans are developed for elements that do not meet quality, cost and timing objectives.
MM
Supplier Upgradation.
Initiate Gateway Finalize Gateway Communicate to all relevant suppliers the expected APQP deliverables in line with Programme Need Dates (In Plant Dates).
Provide a Subcontractor APQP status at each Milestone
100% of approved PSW parts delivered before 100% of the supplier’s open issues are resolved to support on-going production
The Facilities, Tools and Gauges element identifies the new, additional, refurbished and relocated resources necessary to manufacture the customer specified product at designated quantity and quality levels.
Facilities, planning approval, drawings and utilities must be included on the Product Timing Plan and funding approval must be complete.
Machinery FMEA needs to be completed before releasing the Design Approved Print (DAP)
SPC & MSA and acceptance criteria must be team approved before sourcing of Facilities, Tools or Gauges can be approved.
Trial runs should occur at the machine builder’s location to qualify all Facilities, Tools and Gauges.
All corrective actions for Facilities, Tools and Gauges not meeting customer requirements must be completed prior to the Production Trial Run.
Facilities, Tools and Gauges must be delivered, installed and approved prior to the Production Trial Run.
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Project Engineering
Asset Management
Initiate Gateway Finalise Gateway Establish a Manufacturing Strategy.
New Technologies are identified.
Hard points for manufacturing process facilities and complexity are established.
Long lead funding is identified for major Facilities, Tools and Gauges at the Tooling for the VP0 build is confirmed and available before Readiness for PP(Production Proveout) assembly is confirmed at before Facilities, Tools and Gauges are installed &listed in the Process Sheets.
Equipment safety is verified.
Concerns are resolved.
Prototype Build Control Plan (PBCP) is a description of the control factors that will be used to manufacture and assemble a prototype build. In the control plan evaluation process, PBCP is the first summary document. This document is necessary to align the responsible activities process steps to both the significant / critical product characteristics and customer targets.
A cross-functional team led by the Product Engineering develops the Prototype Build Control Plan.
The Prototype Build Control Plan is to be reviewed at each Design Review and is an essential part of the Team Feasibility Commitment.
All relevant records of Part Quality Inspection before Build are mandatory.
Product Development
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Initiate Gateway Finalize Gateway Establish a work plan for Prototype Build Control Plan development.
Review the percentage of Prototype Build Control Plan completion at each design review.
The Preliminary Prototype Build Control Plan is available at A draft of the engineering specifications needed for the PBCB is made available at Gateway All relevant drawing and engineering specification results, upto and including Job 1, is summarized in the Prototype Build Control Plan.
All significant/critical characteristics are reviewed during the prototype build phase.
Lessons learned are identified.
Feasibility commitment of final Prototype Build Control Plan characteristics is available.
The Prototype Builds Element entails the manufacture or assembly of components, systems or sub-systems, and assembled vehicles that will be supplied to the customer for builds occurring prior to the Verification Prototype (VP) Build phase.
All customer prototype material will meet the following requirements by the
In Plant Date.
Correct level parts
Customer specification data.
Customer approval for all non conformances.
The Prototype Build Control Plan was followed in the manufacture or assembly of the Prototype Builds.
Product Development
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plant
MM
Initiate Gateway Finalize Gateway Timing Plan for Prototype Builds is established.
100% of the parts are available before the All planned Prototype Builds are in line with the Timing Plan.
Quality level is verified based on the requirements established in the Prototype Build Control Plan.
Concerns are identified and documented.
9Timing Plan for VP Prototype Builds is established.
PSW status is fully identified for all parts necessary for each prototype build.
All planned Prototype Builds are in line with the Timing Plan
Quality level is verified based on the requirements established in the Prototype Build Control Plan.
Concerns are identified and documented.
For complete Build definition and its application please refer MQS website under MPDS Section.
Please refer Supplier’s Master Schedule for build details (MQS/APQP/F 021)
The Drawing and Specifications Element refers to all engineering drawings, CAD data, material specifications and engineering specifications.
The Programme Need Dates must be communicated to the customer.
Note: the Drawing and Specifications Programme Need Date is the last possible date the supplier can accept a design change and support PSW (Part Submission Warrant) delivery at the Material Required Date.
PPRF/PR drawings are applicable for protobuilds.
Change cutoff for final drawing release should take place before
Pre-launch build.
Drawings and specifications must include
Engineering specification tests
Product Validation Test requirements
The Product Development / Manufacturing Engineering personnel who will be assessing drawings and specifications to meet Programme Affordable Cost and Quality requirements are identified.
The drawing information and engineering specifications will be used as a prerequisite to the Prototype Build Control Plan.
Product Development
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Plants
Initiate Gateway Finalize Gateway Initial
E
The 23 APQP Elements
.
11. Sourcing Decision
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Deliverables
22. Customers Input Requirement
Definition
Expectations
Lead responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Initiate Milestone
Deliverables
33. Design FMEA
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Finalize Milestone
Deliverables
Final
Definitions
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Deliverables
MQS/DR/GL01
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Applicability
Timings
Deliverables
6Subcontractor APQP Status (Tier 1 Supplier)
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Function
Timing
Deliverables
7 Facilities, Tools & Gauges
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Deliverables
7
8Prototype Build Control Plan
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Deliverables
9Prototype Builds
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support Functions
Timing
Deliverables
1010. Drawing and Specifications
Definition
Expectations
Lead Responsibility
Support functions
Timing
Deliverables
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