Overview
The Automotive Quality Core Tools, also known as Quality Core Tools or just simply Core Tools are key pillars of an effective quality management system. Over 30 years ago, AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) and ASQ (American Society of Quality) collaborated with the domestic automotive manufacturers Ford, GM, and Chrysler (now FCA) to establish collective quality methods and tools, which became known as the Quality Core Tools. Other manufacturing sectors including aerospace, defense, medical, consumer products, transportation, and pharmaceutical adapted these tools over time.
Most automotive manufacturers and suppliers require use of one or more of the Core Tools. Therefore, organizations whose employees have mastered the Core Tool processes can assure their customers that the industry’s most qualified individuals are working on their behalf, and that IATF 16949 and applicable quality reference manual requirements will be met without fail.
PMC offers Core Tools Training that covers all tools including Advanced Product Quality Planning & Control Plan (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Measurement System Analysis (MSA) or provides training for each tool individually.
APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)
APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is a structured method of defining and establishing the steps necessary to assure that a product satisfies the customer. The Product Quality Planning requires a planning team to concentrate its efforts on problem prevention. PMC offers APQP Training that covers 5 phases of the tool along with its applications to manufacturing.
The goal of product quality planning is to facilitate communication with everyone involved to assure that all required steps are completed on time.
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is a standardized method developed by AIAG for IATF 16949:20016 used by suppliers to submit new or changed parts for approval to their customers prior to shipping mass quantities for production. PMC offers PPAP Training that covers elements, submission levels Part Submission Warrant (PSW) along with its applications to manufacturing.
The purpose of PPAP is to determine and provide evidence that all customer engineering design record and specification requirements are properly understood by the supplier and that the manufacturing process has the potential to produce product consistently meeting these requirements during an actual production run at the quoted production rate. Below is a sample PPAP Process Flowchart where activities shown will not always be present.
