The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) handbook is an industry standard that outlines the process to demonstrate engineering design and product specifications are met by the supplier’s manufacturing process. Through PPAP, suppliers and customers agree upon the requirements needed to obtain approval of supplier manufactured parts. Applicable to all parts and commodities, PPAP principles help reduce delays and non-conformances during part approval by providing a consistent approval process.

What specific challenge(s) does this address?

• Provides understanding of information required to obtain part approval and standardizes the part approval process
• How to obtain approval of parts/processes after part design changes and/or process changes
• Ensures part submissions are submitted with proper information and enough data to sustain product conformance
• Provides a record of part conformance at launch (allows for measurement of drift from origin)
• Details pertinent design records to ensure traceability of part design status at origin
• Controls product and process change process, providing an approval outlet for all changes to ensure conformance to the next level assembly/process

What are the benefits of PPAP?

• Consistent part approval process
• Assurance parts conform to customer requirements
• Evidence of process stability
• Controls product and process change process, providing an approval outlet for all changes to ensure conformance to the next level assembly/process

What is IMDS in PPAP?

IMDS aids the customer in the supply network to verify the contents of their purchased parts before and during the part approval process. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) requires IMDS submission for each part number before PPAP approval can be granted to the supplier.

PPAP is listed in the following OEM Customer Specific Requirements (and is listed in many of the tiered suppliers' Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs)):

• Stellantis
• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors

Offering insights and practical techniques for supplier quality engineers, plant associates, and managers involved in PPAP processes, this one-day training provides hands-on learning via group activities and scenario analysis. It also answers key questions on PPAP from both the supplier submission side, and the perspective of a plant submitting to their customer.

Whether you are familiar with the production part approval process (PPAP) requirement, need a refresher or are new to PPAP altogether, this overview course is for you. Become versed on the procedures, reporting requirements and activities specified by the PPAP manual.

Through group activities and hands-on coaching, AIAG’s Understanding and Implementing APQP with PPAP training helps you put it all together. To gain the maximum benefit to your quality management system, you must understand how these two Core Tools work in tandem, by developing flow charts, process instructions, and control plans all the way to PPAP submission.

For quality managers, team leaders, or auditors searching for a mastery level understanding of the quality planning process, check out AIAG”s Implementing APQP, Control Plan and PPAP e-learning module.

The PPAP manual describes the process required to demonstrate product and process conformance and receive customer approval before initiating production operations.

The PPAP 4th edition, 2nd Printing has been updated to include the items in the PPAP errata sheet dated July 19, 2006. The PPAP 4th edition, 2nd Printing does not contain any new PPAP requirements, therefore PPAP 4th edition and PPAP 4th edition, 2nd Printing are considered technically equivalent and valid editions.

Publication Errata Sheets

Service Production Part Approval Process (Service PPAP) is a supplement to the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) 4th Edition document. Service PPAP provides additional guidance for service and low volume production operations by defining PPAP requirement adaptations for low volume production operations. No additional PPAP requirements are introduced in this document.

Certification by AIAG in APQP/PPAP verifies an individual's proficiency in product quality planning and control plan guidelines, and PPAP submittal requirements as defined in the APQP 2nd Edition and PPAP 4th Edition manuals.

Program Management: Quality Team - (248) 358-3570