Procedura procesu zatwierdzania części do produkcji (PPAP) jako standard zapewnienia jakości dostawców (SQA) w przedsiębiorstwach produkcyjnych

It is a common knowledge, that quality of a manufactured product highly depends on quality of its components. This especially might be a problem, if a component comes from external supplier, whose processes are normally beyond our control. The paper addresses a procedure called PPAP (Production Part Approval Process abbreviation known from Ford, Chrysler, General Motors manuals, issued by AIAG) which has been widely used in automotive industry to assure good quality deliveries from suppliers, beginning from early stage of cooperation, before start of production. PPAP requirements are shown as a way customer and supplier agrees upon not only product quality, but also upon manufacturing process, which must meet specified standards, set by customer (e.g. documentation, records, capability, stability, confidence in measurements etc.). The paper includes authors' assessment of resources necessary for a supplier to provide in order to meet customer's PPAP requirements. Also, reasons and perspectives of PPAP development are discussed, basing on documents proving PPAP - like practices noticeable in industries having little or nothing in common with automotive industry. In conclusion, PPAP is presented as a procedure imposed on suppliers by customers, who, being well aware of weaknesses of certified Quality Management Systems with respect to management of preventive actions in supplier's manufacturing processes, needs a strong proof that a supplier effectively introduced relevant preventive actions to a manufacturing process before it starts production of goods for a customer.