The Internet, it is often said, "changes everything." Thanks to new Web-based software, the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process used in the automotive industry is no exception to that rule.
Developed in 1994 by the Automotive Industry Action Group, an auto industry consortium, APQP is a systematic product introduction process that aims to facili-tate supply chain communication and ensure quality throughout the vehicle development process. Those are admirable goals, of course. But in some cases, the complexities and extensive documentation requirements of the APQP process have produced a paperwork nightmare for automotive OEMs and their suppliers.