The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is a standardised process used in the automotive supply chain to ensure that a part’s design and specification is properly communicated, implemented, and documented.

The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) was developed by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) as a part of the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) framework. These processes and frameworks aim to standardise the part approval process to ensure all new or modified part submissions have all the proper information required and that the information is recorded in a proper manner.

PPAP entails both documentation of the planning and design process, physical testing of parts, and testing the production process itself. This means testing parts from a significant production run to ensure actual production parts are compliant to the customer’s engineering design and production specification.

How does this relate to the part inspection process?

As a part of the system testing, a Measurement System Analysis (MSA) including a Gauge R&R is usually required to ensure the measurement system is adequate and functioning correctly. The measurement system must be capable of consistently and correctly identifying conforming and non-conforming features. Correlation exercises may also be required to quantify the system bias and identify any issues with the inspection process.

Dimensional results for the parts are also required as a part of an automotive PPAP. This means obtaining an Initial Sample Inspection Report (ISIR) for every dimension, characteristic and specification identified in the engineering design specification, except reference and basic dimensions.

The 18 elements of PPAP

Design Record
Engineering Change Documentation
Customer Engineering Approval
Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA)
Process Flow Diagram
Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
Control Plan
Measurement System Analysis (MSA) Studies
Dimensional Results
Record of Material / Performance Test Results
Initial Process Studies – SPC
Qualified Laboratory Documentation
Appearance Approval Report
Sample Production Parts
Master Sample
Checking Aids
Customer Specific Requirements
Part Submission Warrant

The purpose of PPAP is to determine if all customer engineering design record and specification requirements are properly understood by the organisation and that the manufacturing process has the potential to produce product consistently meeting those requirements during an actual production run…

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AB Technology started out as an independent CMM Inspection & Programming company based near Nottingham, UK. Over the last 25+ years, we have expanded our services to include 3D scanning and reverse engineering, serving customers of all sizes, across an array of industry sectors, both domestically and internationally.