According to the AIAG, "The Automotive Quality Core Tools are the building blocks of an effective quality management system. Today, most automotive manufacturers and suppliers require use of one or more of the Core Tools. Process 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."
The Automotive Quality Core Tools include
Advanced Product Quality Planning & Control Plan (APQP) and the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
APQP and PPAP
Through APQ process, automotive manufacturers and their metal stamping suppliers are involved in every step of the development and launch process together - from initial development through product launch and beyond. The APQP process monitors more than 20 areas before production begins, such as design robustness , design testing, quality inspection standards, product packaging, and more.
The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) works hand in hand with APQP. According to AIAG, PPAP is the "generic part qualification process used to determine if all customer requirements are understood by a supplier and if the process has the potential to produce product meeting The requirements of a production basis. More simply, this term is described the process for any part to be approved on a general level. This is the first step checking for quality of Stamping Parts, but this is not the only step."
To ensure that parts will meet or exceed all OEM specifications, metal stamping firms should offer the expertise of their engineers and tool and die designers early on in the part design process to ensure Design for Manufacturability (DFM). Like a small item in the overall product design, it can make a big difference. Metal stampers should demonstrate their willingness to participate in Collaborative Product and Process Design so that the part is developed to meet the manufacturer's specifications, as well as the achieve the optimal Metal stamping design to reduce risk of failure, increase productivity and contain costs.