PPAP | Production Part Approval Process

Table of Contents

What is PPAP?

PPAP stands for “Production Part Approval Process”. PPAP includes total 18 No’s documents, which helps to get approval of production run from the customer. These Documents used to reduce risks before product release, with help of team and by using established tools and techniques. PPAP is developed by “AIAG” (Auto Industry Action Group) in 1993, by 3 companies GM, Ford & Chrysler. Now PPAP is spread to many different industries which are beyond automotive.

Why PPAP? What is purpose of PPAP?

The purpose of PPAP is to submit the evidences that the supplier understand all customer engineering design specification and their requirements to produce the parts consistently meeting all requirement during actual production run at given production rate.

When PPAP is done?

New Part Development
Changes In
1. Engineering release
2. Processes flow (New / additional machines)
3. Process
4. Layout
5. Raw material ( Equivalent / Alternate)
6. Manufacturing location
7. Sub supplier / location
8. Die/Tool (Major modification / New / additional / Inactive more than 12 months

PPAP Submission Level

During PPAP process there is 5 level for submit the PPAP.

Level 1 submission – Production Warrant and Appearance Approval Report (if applicable) submitted to customer.

Level 2 submission – Production Warrant, product samples, and dimensional results submitted to customer.

Level 3 submission – Production Warrant, product samples, and complete supporting data submitted to customer.

Level 4 submission – Production Warrant and other requirements as defined by customer.

Level 5 submission – Production Warrant, product samples and complete supporting data (a review will be conducted at the supplier’s manufacturing location)

PPAP requirements

There is 18 documents / elements used in PPAP requirement

1.Design Record – All design records for the salable product e.g. Part drawings (Ensure Engineering Change Level is Latest), Material Specifications, Engineering Specification Standards

2. Engineering Change documents – If there is change in part which is not in drawing then there is change approval documentation is mandatory. The change is documented

3. Customer Engineering Approval – If specified by the customer, the supplier has the evidence of customer engineering approval.

4. Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (D FMEA) – In many cases there is customer design, in that case D FMEA is not applicable. But if the supplier is design responsible then it is required.

5. Process Flow Diagram – It shows the flow of the product from incoming raw material to the final product.

6. Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (P FMEA) – PFMEA is live document, in which we identify all failure modes, their potential causes and then apply the respective controls on it.

7. Control Plan – Control plan is the output of PFMEA, which includes the controls on product & process characteristics to maintain the product quality consistently.

8. Measurement System Analysis Studies – MSA includes the study on all dimensional measuring instruments to validate that the measurement system is god for product quality inspection. Learn more about the Measurement System Analysis (MSA).

9. Dimensional Results – It includes your tooling installation reports, samples inspection reports, Layout inspection reports, CMM records etc.

10. Records of Material / Performance Test – It includes the Raw Material test certificates, Surface treatment test certificates, design validation reports etc.

12. Qualified Laboratory Documentation – It includes the material test done by external lab NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) Lab records, ELV (End of Life Vehicle) reports, Chemical & mechanical properties test reports etc.

13. Appearance Approval Report (AAR) – It applicable for aesthetic characteristics. In which customer inspect the final product & approval by giving aesthetic sign-off.

14. Sample Production Parts – PPAP lot quantity define by customer, Confirm and Agree the PPAP Qty in the Initial stage itself. Make documents for sample parts submitted.

15. Master Sample – Master sample is the part on which internal & customer sign-off available and keep retain this part and sign-off sheet documentation.

16. Checking Aids – This includes the list of all measuring resources used in production. This is tools, Instruments, gauges, fixtures, checking panels etc. This needs MSA also for all checking aids as required by customer.

17. Customer-Specific Requirements – This document contains other special customer requirements. for bulk materials, applicable customer-specific requirements to be documented on the bulk material Requirements Checklist.

18. Part Submission Warrant (PSW) – Finally after completion of PPAP process, the supplier should submit the Part submission warrant (PSW) to customer. All PPAP summary is included in PSW.