The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) acts as a proof for the supplier to understand the detailed requirement of the product/part being manufactured or supplied to its customers. The PPAP consists of 18 elements or documents that detail out the production process:
Design Documentation:
- The design records for components and/or details of the saleable product/part.
- In case the design record is in the electronic format (for example, CAD / CAM math data) the organization shall produce a hard copy (for example, pictorial, GD & T sheets, drawings etc.) to identify the measurements taken.
Engineering Change Documentation:
- It is a document that shows a detailed description of the change.
- The document records or authorizes the change to a specific design. The reason for the change is also recorded.
- Typically, this document is called the “Engineering Change Notice”. It may be covered by the customer Purchase Order (PO) or any other engineering authorization.
Customer Engineering Approval:
- The organization shall have evidence of customer engineering approval, as specified by the customer.
- The customer engineering approval may be required for the product or any associated documentation related to that product. If approval is required, it will be stated on the customer’s drawing or any similar documentation.
- When required as part of the PPAP, the supplier must provide evidence of approval by the customer engineering department.
Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis:
- The organization responsible for the product design shall develop a DFMEA in accordance with, and in compliance to, the requirements specified by the customer.
- A single DFMEA may be applied to a family of similar parts.
- Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) is a cross-functional activity that examines design risks. It explores the possible failure modes, effects on the product/customer, and the probability of failure to occur.
These failure modes include:
- Product malfunctions
- Reduced performance or product life
- Safety and regulatory issues.
The DFMEA is a document that should be reviewed and updated throughout the product life cycle.
There are 11 steps required to complete a DFMEA,
Design review – Use the product or service design drawings or documents to identify each component and its relation with other product/service components.
Brainstorm upon the potential failure modes.
List the potential failure modes.
List the potential effects of failure mode.
Assign the seniority ranking, basis the consequences of failure (1-10).
Assign the occurrences ranking (1-10)
Assign detection ranking based on the chance of detection prior to failure (1-10).
– Easy detection is assigned a score of -1 or less
– Difficult detection is assigned a higher score
Calculate the Severity X Occurrence X Detection (SOD) number or the Risk Priority Number (RPN).
Develop an action plan to reduce vital RPN (above the set base line).
Implement the identified improvements.
Calculate the RPN, basis the improvements. Do mistake proofing.
Process Flow Diagram
It is a visual representation (diagram) of the entire process – from receiving through shipping – including the external processes and services. The main objective or purpose of the Process Flow Diagram is to help people “see” the real process map.
It can be used to understand the following characteristics of a process:
- Systematic process linkage
- Offline activities (measurement, inspection, handling)
- Rework, scrap, etc.
When to use a Process Flow Diagram?
- To understand how a process is done
- Before completing the FMEA.
Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
PFMEA is used to identify and prioritize risk areas and their mitigation plans. A cross-functional team (CFT) should complete the PFMEA.
Objective or Purpose:
- Identifies potential failure modes, causes, and effects.
- Inputs are drawn from the process flow diagram.
- Identifies key inputs that affect quality, reliability and safety of the product or process – either positively or negatively.
When to use PFMEA:
- After completion of process flow diagram.
- Prior to tooling for production.
Benefits of PFMEA:
Allows users to take a proactive approach to what can go wrong in a process and manage risks better.
Promise:
You own/operate/require/design or are responsible for equipment essential to a system/process/activity, which may be small or large, simple or complex. It may be related to a plan or something that’s currently in operation.
Control Plan
- The organization has to maintain a control plan as per customer –specific requirements.
- If the organization reviews commonality, then control plans for families of products are acceptable.
- Approval of control plans may be required by some customers.
- The organization shall have a control plan that defines all methods used for process control; it should comply with all customer specific requirements.
- The control plan for families of parts is acceptable if the new parts have been reviewed for commonality by the organization.
In general, there are 3 types of control plans:
Prototype
Pre-Launch
Production
The pre-launch and production control plans may be applied to a family of products or specific processes.
Measurement System Analysis Studies
MSA is a statistical tool used for determining if a measurement system is capable of returning precise measurements (Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility) or not.
Objective or purpose:
- To determine errors in measurement due to the measuring process itself.
- Quantify the variability added by the measurement system.
- It is applicable to attribute data and variable data.
Conducting MSA reduces the likelihood of passing a bad part or rejecting a good one. It is
used on critical inputs and outputs, prior to collecting data for analysis.
Dimensional Results:
It provides evidence that dimensional verification is complete and the results indicate compliance with specified requirements.
Objective or Purpose:
- To show conformance to the customer’s print (drawings) of dimensions and all other noted requirements.
- It is used for each unique manufacturing process (for example, cells or production lines, and all moulds, patterns or dies).
Records of Material / Performance Tests:
Material Tests:
- The supplier needs to verify and test all parts and products for the chemical, physical, or metallurgical requirements of materials, as mentioned in the drawing or control plan.
- For products with customer developed material specifications and/or customer approved supplier list, the supplier shall procure materials and/or services from a supplier mentioned on that list.
Performance Tests:
- The supplier needs to verify and test all parts and products for performance or functional requirements of their materials, as mentioned in the design record or control plan.
Initial Process Studies:
Initial process studies are carried out on all the production processes; they include Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts depicting the critical characteristics of the product.
- The purpose is to determine if the production process is likely to produce a product that matches all customer requirements.
- The initial process capability and performance is determined for all special characteristics, and as designated by the customer or organization.
- Customer concurrence is to be obtained on indices for estimating process capability prior to submission (Cpk, Ppk).
- Index > 1.67 is acceptable.
- The customer agreement is needed for index value between 1.67 and 1.33.
- Index < 1.33 is not acceptable currently.
- The initial process capability acceptance criteria are only one among the many requirements leading to PPAP approval.
Qualified Laboratory Documentation:
- The inspection and testing for PPAP shall be performed by a qualified laboratory, as defined by customer requirements (for example, an accredited laboratory).
- The qualified laboratory (internal or external to the supplier) shall have a laboratory scope and documentation showing that the laboratory is qualified for the type of measurement or test conducted.
- When an external laboratory is used, the supplier shall submit the test results on the laboratory letter head or the normal laboratory report format.
- The name of the laboratory that performed the test, the dates of the tests, and the standards used to run the test, shall be identified.
Appearance Approval Report:
This report has to be completed by the supplier. It shall include the color and other details of appearance as required by the customer specifications.
Objective or purpose:
- To demonstrate that the part has met all appearance requirements on design records.
- The Appearance Approval Report is used prior to tooling for production; typically, it is applied only for parts with color, grain, or surface appearance requirements.
Sample Production Parts:
They relate to actual samples that reflect the part documented in the PPAP.
Objective or purpose:
- To confirm approval for cosmetic or functional parts.
- The sample part should be delivered with the PPAP submission.
- The sample provided should be for the parts that were measured for the dimensional results.
- Unless otherwise requested, 3 parts is the default quantity for all submissions.
The sample production parts must be properly identified. Include the following information on the label attached to the part:
- The date of packing the parts
- Number of the part provided by the customer
- Quantity
- Serial number
- Supplier part number (optional)
- Description of the part
- Country or origin
- Indication of ROHS compliance
- Approval marking (UL. ISI., BS, CE, etc.) where applicable
Master Sample:
- The organization shall retain a master sample for the same period as the production part approval record, or:
- Until a new master sample is produced for the same ‘customer part number’ for the customer’s approval.
- Where a master sample is required by the design record, control plan, or inspection criteria, as a reference or standard.
- The master sample shall be identified as such; it shall show the customer approval date on the sample.
- The organization shall retain a master sample for each position of the multiple cavities die, mould, tool, pattern, or production process, unless specified by the customer.
- The sample retention requirements may be modified or waived in writing by an authorized representative of the customer. This is possible if the part size, sheer volume of parts, etc. makes it difficult to store a master sample,
Checking
- If requested by the customer, the organization will include any part specific assembly or component checking aid with the PPAP submission.
- The organization shall certify that all aspects of the checking aid are in agreement with the dimensional requirements of the part.
- During submission, the supplier shall record and retain all instances of released engineering design changes that were incorporated in the checking aid.
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Checking aid can include the fixtures, variable and attribute gauges, models, and templates specific to the product being submitted.
Customer Specific Requirements:
- The organization shall have records of compliance for all applicable customer specific requirements.
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The Bulk Material Requirement Checklist should document
- The typical customer–specific requirements
- Customer-designated symbols for special characteristics
- Records of compliance that have to be maintained.
Part Submission Warrant:
- It is the document required for all newly-tooled or revised products, wherein the supplier confirms that the inspection and tests on the production part conforms to all customer requirements. Objective or purpose:
- Objective or purpose:
- Approval of the document part
- Provides key information
- Declares that the part meets with all specifications
- It is used prior to shipping the production part.
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