How can you involve suppliers in the APQP process to improve risk management?

1 Identify critical suppliers

The first step to involve suppliers in the APQP process is to identify which suppliers are critical for your product quality and performance. Critical suppliers are those who provide key components, materials, or services that affect the functionality, reliability, or safety of your product. You can use criteria such as the complexity, uniqueness, or availability of the supplier's input, as well as the supplier's past performance, certification, or reputation. Once you identify your critical suppliers, you should communicate your expectations and requirements for the APQP process, such as timelines, deliverables, and quality standards.

2 Conduct supplier risk assessment

The next step is to conduct a supplier risk assessment to identify and evaluate the potential sources of failure or variation in the supplier's input. You can use tools such as FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), SPC (Statistical Process Control), or PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) to analyze the supplier's design, process, and product characteristics, and to determine the severity, occurrence, and detection of failure modes. The supplier risk assessment should also consider the supplier's capacity, capability, and contingency plans, as well as the impact of external factors such as market demand, regulations, or environmental conditions.

3 Implement supplier risk mitigation

The third step is to implement supplier risk mitigation strategies to prevent or reduce the likelihood or impact of failure modes. You can work with your suppliers to develop and implement corrective or preventive actions, such as design changes, process improvements, quality controls, or inspection methods. You can also establish contingency plans, such as alternative sources, inventory buffers, or emergency procedures, in case of unexpected disruptions or issues. You should monitor and measure the effectiveness of your supplier risk mitigation strategies, and adjust them as needed based on the feedback and data.

4 Review supplier performance

The final step is to review your supplier performance and evaluate their contribution to the APQP process and the product quality. You can use tools such as scorecards, audits, or surveys to measure and compare the supplier's performance against the agreed criteria, such as quality, cost, delivery, or customer satisfaction. You should also provide feedback and recognition to your suppliers, and identify opportunities for improvement or collaboration. You should review your supplier performance regularly, and update your supplier risk assessment and mitigation strategies accordingly.

By involving your suppliers in the APQP process, you can improve your risk management and ensure that your products meet or exceed your customer's expectations. You can also build stronger and more productive relationships with your suppliers, and leverage their expertise and innovation.

5 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?