APQP · part of Launch Quality

APQP Software Know which launch is slipping before the gate review tells you.

Run each new part through the five APQP phases with an owner, a due date and a sign-off on every deliverable, gate reviews that end in go, conditional go or no-go, and one dashboard showing the health of every launch.

Book a demo Talk to a launch quality expert
The basics

What is APQP, and what are its five phases?

APQP, Advanced Product Quality Planning, is the structured method automotive suppliers use to plan quality into a new or changed part before mass production. The AIAG manual splits it into five phases: plan and define, product design and development, process design and development, product and process validation, and feedback and corrective action.

Most plants still run APQP from a timing chart in Excel and a folder per customer. Deliverables get marked done because someone said so in a meeting. When the auditor asks who signed off the PFMEA, on what evidence, and whether the customer agreed to gate 3, the answer is a search through email.

Features

APQP project management software, phase by phase

Use the full AIAG plan for a new part, or a short carry-over plan for a change to an existing one.

Five APQP phases from your own templates

Two starters ship with the product: Full APQP (AIAG) and Carry-over / change. Rename phases, add or drop deliverables, set approvers and gate rules per template, and a small shop can run a light version.

Every deliverable signed off with evidence

Each deliverable has one owner, a due date, an approver, checklist items and attached evidence. Not applicable needs a reason and an approval, and reopening a signed-off item is recorded.

Gate reviews with go, conditional go or no-go

Gate approvals run through your own workflow. Conditions added by approvers become gate actions with owners and due dates, and a customer sign-off can be recorded with the signed form attached.

Timing plans on a real schedule

Each APQP project gets a linked project board and Gantt chart, so dates and dependencies are planned in one place. The dashboard shows every launch by phase, overdue items and red, amber or green health.

Control plan and process flow built in

Generate the control plan from the released PFMEA, with special characteristics checked before release. PFMEA changes show up as a list to review, and chosen rows become inspection plans without retyping.

FMEA, PPAP and MSA as linked deliverables

A DFMEA, PFMEA or PPAP deliverable opens the document itself and follows its approval. MSA and capability deliverables use approved studies as their evidence instead of a PDF.

Connected

APQP doesn't live alone

An APQP project can start from a sales quote, a customer order or an approved engineering change, with the customer and parts filled in. Its FMEA, control plan, PPAP and capability deliverables open those documents directly, so a gate shows their real approval status.

Standards and industries

APQP software for automotive and aerospace launches

One launch model. The phases and deliverables are yours to set per template.

IndustryStandardWhat you get
AutomotiveIATF 16949, AIAG APQP and control planFive phases, gate reviews, control plans for prototype, pre-launch and production
AutomotiveAIAG-VDA FMEADFMEA and PFMEA deliverables completed by releasing the FMEA itself
Aerospace and defenceAS9145, AS9100Your own template with the aerospace phases, deliverables and gate approvals
General manufacturingISO 9001A short launch plan with few deliverables and optional gates
FAQ

APQP questions people ask

Still unsure? Ask our team.

What does APQP stand for?

APQP stands for Advanced Product Quality Planning. It comes from the AIAG core tools used across the automotive supply chain and is expected by IATF 16949 customers whenever a new or changed part is launched.

What are the 5 phases of APQP?

Plan and define the programme; product design and development; process design and development; product and process validation; and feedback, assessment and corrective action. Each phase ends with a gate review. In YourBrand the phase names, deliverables and gate rules come from a template you can edit.

What is APQP in manufacturing, and why does it matter?

It is the plan that gets a part from customer enquiry to stable production with the risks found early: FMEAs, control plans, gauge studies, capability studies and the PPAP at the end. Without it, problems surface during the production run, when they cost the most to fix.

What is the difference between APQP and PPAP?

APQP is the whole launch plan, split into phases. PPAP is the approval package submitted near the end of it, in phase 4, to prove the process is ready. In YourBrand a PPAP deliverable on the APQP plan opens the PPAP submission and follows its decision.

Can an APQP project start from a sales quote or order?

Yes. You can start one by hand, or from an opportunity, sales quote, customer order or approved engineering change request. For each source you choose off, a Start APQP button, or automatic creation of a draft project, and which template to suggest.

Do small engineering changes need the full APQP?

Usually not. The Carry-over / change starter template uses phases 1, 3 and 4 only, with deliverables such as the PFMEA update, control plan update and PPAP submission. You can make your own reduced templates too.

How is customer sign-off at a gate handled?

Each phase has a gate mode: no gate, internal approval, or internal approval plus customer sign-off. For customer sign-off, someone on your team records the customer approver, date, outcome and comment, and attaches the signed form or email.

Put your next launch on one plan your whole team can see

We walk through it with your own parts and documents. It takes about 30 minutes.

Book a demo Get a quote
Related: Launch Quality suiteFMEA softwarePPAP softwareIATF 16949Automotive