Launch · Stellantis Toluca
APQP explained: the five phases every supplier should know
APQP, Advanced Product Quality Planning, is the structured method for taking a new automotive part from concept to stable production without surprises. It breaks a launch into five phases so that quality is planned in, not inspected in after the fact.
Published: July 3, 2026
What are the five phases of APQP?
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1. Plan and define | Turn customer needs into design goals and a program plan |
| 2. Product design | Design the part, run the DFMEA, define special characteristics |
| 3. Process design | Design the process, build the PFMEA and the control plan |
| 4. Validation | Trial runs, measurement studies, capability, and PPAP |
| 5. Feedback and improvement | Launch, reduce variation, close lessons learned |
Why does APQP prevent launch defects?
Most launch defects trace back to something skipped in planning: a special characteristic that was never flagged, a control plan that does not match the process, or a validation run that was rushed. APQP forces those questions to be answered before volume production, when fixing them is cheap. By the time parts reach the line, the risks have been designed out and the controls are already in place. That is why OEMs expect APQP discipline from suppliers and why the strongest launches feel almost quiet.
How does IDS support the quality side of APQP?
IDS focuses on the phases where a supplier is most exposed at the plant: process design, validation and the early weeks of production. That means building the control plan and PFMEA with your team, running Safe Launch and preventive GP-12 containment, supporting PPAP, and feeding daily data back to your launch team and the SQE. For a program like the Jeep Recon EV, that presence catches issues in phase four instead of in the field. See launch support and our Jeep Recon EV page. Start planning with us.
FAQ Frequently asked questions
What does APQP stand for?
APQP is Advanced Product Quality Planning, the structured five-phase method for bringing a new automotive part to stable production while planning quality in from the start.
How is APQP different from PPAP?
APQP is the whole planning method across five phases; PPAP is a deliverable inside phase four, the evidence package that proves the part and process meet requirements.
Does IDS support APQP at Stellantis Toluca?
Yes. IDS supports the quality side of APQP, especially process design, validation and launch, with control plan help, Safe Launch, GP-12 and PPAP support at the plant.
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