How can you ensure that your APQP tools and techniques are flexible?

2 Choose the appropriate tools and techniques

The second step to ensure flexibility in your APQP tools and techniques is to choose the appropriate ones for your project or process. There are many different tools and techniques that you can use in APQP, such as Voice of the Customer (VOC), Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Control Plan, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and more. However, not all of them are suitable or necessary for every situation. You should select the tools and techniques that best fit your scope, objectives, resources, and constraints, and that provide the most value and benefit for your quality planning and improvement.

4 Monitor and review the progress and performance

The fourth step to ensure flexibility in your APQP tools and techniques is to monitor and review the progress and performance of your project or process. You should use the criteria and methods that you established in the first step to measure and evaluate the quality of your outputs, processes, and outcomes. You should also collect and analyze data and information from various sources, such as surveys, tests, audits, inspections, and reports. You should then compare the actual results with the expected ones, and identify any gaps, deviations, or problems that need to be resolved or improved.

5 Implement and verify the changes and improvements

The fifth step to ensure flexibility in your APQP tools and techniques is to implement and verify the changes and improvements that you identified in the previous step. You should plan and execute the actions and solutions that will address the gaps, deviations, or problems, and that will enhance the quality of your project or process. You should also verify and validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the changes and improvements, using the same criteria and methods that you used in the fourth step. You should then document and communicate the results and outcomes, and celebrate and recognize the achievements and successes.

6 Learn and improve continuously

The sixth and final step to ensure flexibility in your APQP tools and techniques is to learn and improve continuously. You should review and reflect on the entire APQP process, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that you encountered. You should also solicit and receive feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders, and incorporate them into your future plans and actions. You should then update and revise your APQP tools and techniques, and apply the lessons learned and best practices to your next project or process. By learning and improving continuously, you will be able to adapt and innovate your APQP tools and techniques, and achieve higher levels of quality and customer satisfaction.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?