The Quality Blog

Just returned to North America from China and India. I was teaching APQP and PPAP to several enthusiastic groups in both China and India. With emerging markets expanding at an exponential rate, the need for supply chain management and development is very strong. Suppliers make up to 70% of the value in most big products produced in these regions. The supply chain is also as diverse as he cultures that I have visited there. Some suppliers are transplants form Europe or North America and are as sophisticated as their inspirations in NA and the EU, while others are just getting started or have been suppliers for a very long time but without the extra expectations of the change management process of APQP. I must say that the groups that I visited were very enthusiastic and quite interested in the possible benefits of Quality Planning. I was very explicit about the danger of the checklist mentality and the temptation to just complete forms and not get the true benefits of FMEA, Special Characteristics and Collaboration. This message is key to ensuring that intelligent supply chain development is the outcome instead of the documentation exercise so often incorrectly depicted as what APQP is.

Just a note to my new friends in China and India, Wow, I had a great time, thanks for the hospitality and the great interchange, questions, and learning experience. I will always remember my trip and your friendliness.

Lee

In Beijing this week teaching 40 or so engineers and suppliers development people in APQP.The tools used in APQP such as FMEA and Design for Assembly were of great interest. I was very pleased at the level of intensity that was demonstrated by the participants. (trying not to fall asleep) But seriously, these tools which have been introduced are not well understood even though many examples exist of their use. I suspect they are filling in the form without getting much value from the tool (FMEA) What is really rewarding to me is when they “get it” and they begin to listen and ask questions and you can see that they will now be using the FMEA as it was intended - to prevent failure and improve controls.