For organisations supplying into OEMs and Tier 1 manufacturers, particularly in automotive, aerospace, and medical devices, the expectations around product quality, reliability, and process control have never been higher. To meet these expectations, the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) framework has become an essential methodology for structured, rigorous product and process development. 

At the Centre for Competitiveness (CforC), we support organisations in building the internal capability needed to deploy APQP effectively and confidently, ensuring your teams understand not just what to deliver, but why OEMs require it and how to demonstrate compliance. 

Key Benefits of Implementing APQP 

Organisations that embed APQP into their product development system see significant advantages: 

✔ Reduced risk of failure and quality concerns: APQP requires early identification of potential issues through tools such as FMEA, control plans, MSA (Measurement Systems Analysis), Process Capacity Studies, and SPC. 

✔ Faster and more cost-effective development cycles: A systematic approach minimises late changes, defects, and firefighting – reducing both time and cost. 

✔ Stronger customer confidence: PPAP provides objective evidence that design, production, and quality processes meet customer requirements. 

✔ Improved cross-functional alignment: APQP brings Design, Manufacturing, Production, Quality, and Project Management together – breaking down silos and improving decision-making. 

The Four Phases of the APQP Process 

APQP is built around four core phases, each requiring collaboration across multiple teams: 

Phase 1: Plan & Define Programme Led by Project Management 
Focus: Understanding customer needs, developing initial risk assessments, defining project timelines. 

Phase 2: Product Design & Development Verification Led by Product Development 
Focus: Engineering design, design FMEAs, prototypes, design verification, and validation testing. 

Phase 3: Process Design & Development Verification Led by Process & Manufacturing Engineering 
Focus: Process flow, PFMEA, control plans, work instructions, layout, and tooling development. 

Phase 4: Product & Process Validation Led by Quality 
Focus: Trial production runs, capability studies, measurement system analysis, and PPAP documentation. 

While Quality often coordinates the APQP and PPAP activities, evidence must come from across the organisation, demonstrating that processes are defined, implemented, and monitored effectively. 

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