PPAP Full Form: Production Part Approval Process
Definition
PPAP stands for Production Part Approval Process — the set of documents and samples a supplier submits to an automotive customer to prove that its production process can consistently make parts that meet every requirement, at the quoted rate.
| Term | PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) |
|---|---|
| In Hindi | उत्पादन पुर्ज़ा अनुमोदन प्रक्रिया (PPAP) |
| Area | Production & quality |
| Search phrase | PPAP full form |
| Try it | CAPA full form |
उत्पादन पुर्ज़ा अनुमोदन प्रक्रिया (PPAP) — हिंदी में अर्थ
PPAP का पूरा नाम Production Part Approval Process है — वह दस्तावेज़ और नमूनों का सेट जो सप्लायर ऑटोमोबाइल ग्राहक को देता है, यह साबित करने के लिए कि उसकी उत्पादन प्रक्रिया तय दर पर लगातार हर आवश्यकता पूरी करने वाले पुर्ज़े बना सकती है।
The 18 PPAP elements
1. Design records; 2. Engineering change documents; 3. Customer engineering approval; 4. Design FMEA; 5. Process flow diagram; 6. Process FMEA; 7. Control plan; 8. Measurement system analysis (MSA); 9. Dimensional results; 10. Material and performance test results; 11. Initial process studies (Cpk); 12. Qualified laboratory documentation; 13. Appearance approval report; 14. Sample production parts; 15. Master sample; 16. Checking aids; 17. Customer-specific requirements; 18. Part Submission Warrant (PSW).
Submission levels and triggers
Level 1: PSW only. Level 2: PSW with samples and limited data. Level 3: PSW with samples and complete data — the default unless the customer says otherwise. Level 4: PSW and other requirements set by the customer. Level 5: PSW with samples and complete data reviewed at the supplier's site.
PPAP is needed for a new part, and again after a change in design, material, sub-supplier, tooling, location or process. It is part of the IATF 16949 framework that Indian auto-component makers supplying vehicle OEMs work under.
Example
A Pune press shop wins a new bracket for a two-wheeler OEM. Before mass supply it runs a significant production run, measures parts for the dimensional report, shows Cpk ≥ 1.67 on critical dimensions, and submits a Level 3 PPAP with the signed PSW.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of PPAP?
Production Part Approval Process.
How many elements are in PPAP?
Eighteen, ending with the Part Submission Warrant (PSW).
What is the default PPAP level?
Level 3 — PSW with product samples and complete supporting data.
What is the difference between PPAP and APQP?
APQP is the planning process for a new product; PPAP is the approval at the end of it proving the process is ready.
Related terms
- 5 Whys (root cause analysis)The 5 Whys is a root cause analysis technique in which a team asks 'why?' repeatedly — typically about five times — starting from a problem, until it reaches a cause that, if fixed, stops the problem coming back.
- 5S5S is a workplace organisation method with five steps: Sort (Seiri), Set in order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardise (Seiketsu) and Sustain (Shitsuke).
- CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action)CAPA stands for Corrective and Preventive Action — a structured process to find the root cause of a quality problem, fix it so it does not recur (corrective), and stop similar problems before they occur (preventive).
- DMAIC (Six Sigma)DMAIC — Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control — is the five-step, data-driven problem-solving method used in Six Sigma to improve an existing process by finding and removing the root causes of defects and variation.
- First pass yield (FPY)First pass yield (FPY) is the percentage of units that pass a process step correctly the first time, without rework, repair or scrap. FPY = units passed first time ÷ units entering the step × 100.
- Fishbone diagram (Ishikawa)A fishbone diagram, also called an Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram, lays out all the possible causes of a problem in categories along the 'bones' of a fish whose head is the problem, so that a team can brainstorm and then test the likely ones.