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What is Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)?
The PPAP process, or production part approval process, is how an automotive supplier proves to the customer
that it can make a part to spec, consistently, before mass production. It’s a package of evidence, not a single
test. People pair it with APQP, but APQP is the planning journey; PPAP is the approval it produces near the end.
Why is the PPAP important?
The PPAP process gives the customer documented proof that a supplier can make a part to specification before mass production starts, which heads off defective parts and costly launch delays. In the automotive supply chain it is a requirement under IATF 16949, so a missing or incomplete submission can hold up an entire program. Getting the production part approval process right the first time protects both quality and the supplier relationship.
What goes into a PPAP submission?
A full PPAP pulls together the evidence that a part and its process are production-ready:
- Design records and a first article inspection showing the part meets the drawing.
- Process flow, design and process FMEAs, and a control plan.
- Measurement system analysis and capability studies proving the process is stable.
- A part submission warrant (PSW), the cover sheet that signs it off.
- Whatever else the customer’s submission level demands, from a warrant only to the full file.
How does the PPAP Process differ from APQP?
concept to launch. PPAP is the evidence bundle produced in the validation phase, the one that gets the part
approved. APQP plans quality in; PPAP proves it’s there. Both live under IATF 16949.
PPAP vs APQP vs FAI at a glance
Three automotive quality steps, sorted by what they prove.
| Aspect | PPAP | APQP | FAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | An approval package | A five-phase plan | A first-part check |
| Proves | The process is production-ready | Quality was planned in | One part meets the drawing |
| Scope | System-level evidence | Concept to launch | Part-level |
| When | Validation phase | The whole program | Inside PPAP, or standalone |
Related Terms
- First Article Inspection (FAI) – a check often inside PPAP.
- Quality Assurance – the discipline PPAP serves.
Further Reading
- EQMS – elctronival quality management system
