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Frequently Asked Questions
Getting started
Advanced Product Quality Planning (or APQP) is a framework of procedures and techniques used to develop products in the industry.
The purpose is to produce a product quality plan which will support the development of a product or service that will satisfy the Customer.
Advanced Product Quality Planning is a process developed in the late 1980s by a commission of experts gathered from the 'Big Three' US automobile Manufacturers: Ford, GM, and Chrysler. This commission invested five years to analyze the then-current automotive development and production status in the US, Europe and especially in Japan. At the time, the success of the Japanese automotive companies was starting to be remarkable in the US market.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is used in the supply chain for establishing confidence in component Suppliers and their production processes. Actual measurements are taken of the parts produced and are used to complete the various test sheets of PPAP.
The purpose of any Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is:
- to ensure that a Supplier can meet the manufacturability and quality requirements of the parts supplied to the Customer.
- to provide evidence that the Customer engineering design record and specification requirements are clearly understood and fulfilled by the Supplier.
- to demonstrate that the established manufacturing process has the potential to produce the part that consistently meets all requirements during the actual production run at the quoted production rate Critical elements of the process approach.
APQP4Wind has a host of benefits for both Customers and Suppliers. These benefits include Improved product quality, enhanced customer satisfaction, Increased efficiency, reduced costs, improved supplier relations, better risk management, Improved process control, and more.
While a detailed understanding of APQP4Wind’s steps requires professional training, a simple overview would include: Plan and Define The Program, Product Design and Development, Process Design and Development, Product and Process Validation, Feedback Assessment and Corrective Action, Production Launch, Ongoing Monitoring and Feedback, and more.
Communication
Yes, our newsletter is available for Company Member employees. If you work at an APQP4Wind Member Company and have been registered in our system through training or communication, you will receive our newsletter automatically. You are welcome to send an email to marketing@apqp4wind.org if you want to subscribe to the newsletter.
Yes, the APQP4Wind organization plans to organize more webinars.
If you need any clarifications, please contact the Secretariat: contact@apqp4wind.org.
If you experience bugs in the APQP4Wind Workbook, please contact the Secretariat: contact@apqp4wind.org.
Content/Requirement
No, APQP4WIND complements the Quality Management System requirements (for example, ISO 9001). In general, compliance with the ISO 9001 requirements is expected.
Yes, however, prior to the audit, the content of the APQP4Wind Manual should be addressed in the Quality Management System, and any gaps should be closed when updating the system.
The Supplier is free to negotiate it with the Customer, and the Customer may agree to it if the custom template fulfills the requirements.
Yes, APQP4Wind is only applicable within the wind industry.
Yes, there is alignment among APQP4Wind members on APQP4Wind templates.
APQP4Wind describes an overall framework where PPAP4Wind is an essential partial process with specific documents.
As the name indicates, APQP4Wind is associated with product development, and consideration of service is currently limited to 'Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Transport and Service' (Chapter 2.7).
No, the APQP4Wind Manual is currently limited to 'Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Transport and Service' (Chapter 2.7).
For both.
Yes, it needs to be part of Kick Off meeting and mutually agreed requirement can be documented with the help of custom templates available in the APQP4Wind Workbook.
The Special Characteristics classification was defined in alignment with all other members from the APQP4Wind organization for their special needs and requirements. The classification in the automotive industry is open to individual organizations or Customers to define.
Implementation
It is recommended to conduct an internal audit/assessment based on existing practice within the organization. You can use the APQP4Wind Assessment Tool to assess your maturity level and sign up for APQP4Wind Assessment Tool Training to learn how to apply the tool in practice.
No, it is not mandatory, but essential and highly recommended. Therefore, Specialist and Management Awareness Training is a requirement to become an APQP4Wind Company Member.
Yes, for awareness and maturity improvement, but not for certification.
Yes, especially during implementation, when you need to train and master the complete organization of the new concept. Once established, running the system usually will not consume any additional resources.
Yes, APQP4Wind needs to be planned on an essential basis. You may also plan Internal Awareness Training to improve overall maturity within the organization.
It depends on the size and business type of the organization. It also depends on the already existing quality maturity level, resource allocation, etc. With effective planning and execution, it can be reduced by a few months.
Manual
APQP4Wind Manual 1.2 is translated into Chinese and Spanish. Read more on the APQP4Wind Manual page.
The Manual 1.3 is available in English. The Chinese translation project will begin in May 2024.
The APQP4Wind Manual can be ordered through our approved Training Providers. More information can be found on the Buy the APQP4Wind Manual page.
The APQP4Wind Manual is not a standard but a guideline. During the APQP4Wind kickoff meeting, it is determined which requirements must be implemented between the Supplier and the Customer. If Customer requirements are only described in Manual 1.3, they must be obtained.
The APQP4Wind Manual is not a standard but a guideline. During the APQP4Wind kickoff meeting, it is determined which requirements must be implemented between the Supplier and the Customer. If Customer requirements are only described in Manual 1.3, they must be obtained.
If you have bought a Manual 1.2 Company Version later than September 13, 2023, you will automatically receive a new APQP4Wind EN E-Manual 1.3.
If you participated in APQP4Wind Training courses after September 13th 2023 and own an APQP4Wind Manual 1.2, you are welcome to contact the Secretariat by email: contact@apqp4wind.org for a free APQP4Wind E-Manual 1.3.
Introduction of Process Special Characteristics in APQP4Wind Manual 1.3 improves quality management, risk mitigation, compliance with standards, continuous improvement, and supplier management in wind energy projects. By incorporating these characteristics into the APQP4Wind framework, project teams can strengthen their quality assurance processes and deliver high-quality products to customers while minimizing risk and optimizing performance.
The introduction of Capacity Planning and Contingency Planning in APQP4Wind Manual 1.3 improves risk management, resource optimization, schedule compliance, quality assurance, and stakeholder communication in wind energy projects. By integrating these planning elements into the APQP4Wind framework, project teams can improve project outcomes and ensure successful project execution.
APQP4Wind Element updated according to changes, responsibility changed, covering scope extension, and definitions updated accordingly.
These changes shall make it clear that APQP4Wind processes and tools also apply to design processes, projects, services, and other processes in the wind industry.
The New figure illustrates a straight Customer-Supplier relationship.
The Framework has been updated to ensure the inclusion of all services in the extended scope.
Model Build and First Production Run have been added to Prototype and 0-series in the framework, and the stages have been renamed to cover the extended scope.
No, it is correct. This requirement leads to the Risk Number (RN) being the driver of improvements. However, there was a typo in the first edition of Manual 1.3. The error is corrected in versions sold after June 2024.
Membership
Should the necessity for additional Working Group Members arise, the APQP4Wind Secretariat will extend an invitation to APQP4Wind Company Members to submit their applications.
When you apply for a Company Membership, at least one of your employees must have a valid Management Awareness Training certificate and at least one other employee must have a valid Specialist Training certificate from one of our approved training providers. Certificates from other providers or certificates that have expired will not be considered valid.
Training
After you pass the exam, you will receive an email from the Secretariat with the certificate in a PDF file, which you can print.
APQP4Wind Training courses after March 2024 will be adjusted according to Manual 1.3.
No, the release of Manual 1.3 doesn´t set extra requirements for joining the Refresher courses. Whether or not to join the Refresher courses depends on the validity of your certificate: Refresher training can be attended from 6 months before and up to a maximum of 3 months after the expiration date stated on the certificate.
Toolbox & Assessment Tool
When developing APQP4Wind, the risk terminology 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High' was decided to keep things simpler and avoid discussions like whether a 3 is actually more of a 2 or perhaps a 4.
When comparing with the automotive terminology, 'Low' is 1, 'Medium' is 3, and 'High' is 5.
In addition, the OEMs decide whether the product/system is 'Low', 'Medium' or 'High' risk.
The APQP4Wind Secretariat is aware that the use of macros in the APQP4Wind Toolbox raises some concerns for our users, and it is therefore important to emphasize that there are no malicious macros enabled in the APQP4Wind Workbook or APQP4Wind Analysis Tool. Consequently, we are in the process of finding a more suitable solution in the future. Until a suitable solution has been found, there are two ways to gain access to the documents:
- Save the APQP4Wind Workbook or APQP4Wind Analysis Tool locally on your computer and follow this guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/security/internet-macros-blocked#remove-mark-of-the-web-from-a-file
or - Add https://apqp4wind.org as a trusted site by following this guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/security/internet-macros-blocked#files-centrally-located-on-a-network-share-or-trusted-website
To learn more about macros in our APQP4Wind Toolbox, you can read more on our page Workbook & Analysis Tool.
Yes, the APQP4Wind Workbook & Analysis Tool has been updated according to Manual 1.3, and you can download it from the Workbook & Analysis Tool page.
Yes, the APQP4Wind Assessment Tool has been updated according to Manual 1.3, and it can be found on the Assessment Tool page.