🎯 Unified Quality Platform

APQP for New Products + DMAIC for Process Improvement

← Back to APQPSigma

APQPSigma is in active development. This experience illustrates the platform we are building.

Choose Your Quality Journey

🏭
APQP Project
Advanced Product Quality Planning
For launching NEW products with a structured approach from concept through production. Required for automotive PPAP submissions.

USE CASES:

  • New product introduction
  • Major design changes
  • New supplier qualification
  • Customer requires PPAP

TIMELINE:

12-24 months (full development cycle)

🎯
DMAIC Project
Six Sigma Process Improvement
For improving EXISTING processes using data-driven Six Sigma methodology. Reduce defects, improve cycle time, increase yield.

USE CASES:

  • Reduce defect rates
  • Improve cycle time
  • Increase first pass yield
  • Cost reduction projects

TIMELINE:

3-6 months (improvement project)

💡 Why Both in One Platform?

Most quality teams need both methodologies. Use APQP to successfully launch new products, then use DMAIC to continuously improve them once in production. One platform, one team, all your quality work.

Phase-by-Phase Comparison

🏭

APQP Phases

Product Launch Methodology

1
Plan & Define
Voice of customer, design goals, feasibility
2
Product Design
DFMEA, design verification, prototype
3
Process Design
PFMEA, control plan, work instructions
4
Validation
Production trial, Cpk studies, PPAP
5
Production
Launch, SPC monitoring, continuous improvement
🎯

DMAIC Phases

Process Improvement Methodology

D
Define
Problem statement, goal, scope, team charter
M
Measure
Data collection, baseline, MSA, capability
A
Analyze
Root cause analysis, hypothesis testing
I
Improve
Solutions, DOE, pilot testing, validation
C
Control
Control plan, SPC, sustain improvements
The handoff

APQP establishes the product and the process for production. Once the process is running, DMAIC begins the continuous improvement journey.

APQP · Phase 5 · Production APQP gets the product into production
Production The production process is running
DMAIC DMAIC improves the process that is running
Define Measure Analyze Improve Control

🛠️ Shared Tool Library

How the quality toolset is shared across APQP and DMAIC. Sharing a tool does not merge the two methodologies — APQP remains APQP, DMAIC remains DMAIC.

✅ Used in BOTH APQP & DMAIC (11 tools)

🔍 DFMEA
⚙️ PFMEA
📋 Control Plan
📈 Cp/Cpk Calculator
📊 SPC Charts
🎯 MSA / Gage R&R
🔧 8D Problem Solving
❓ 5 Whys
🐟 Fishbone
📊 Histogram
📉 Pareto

🏭 APQP-Specific (2 tools)

📦 PSW Form
📋 PPAP Checklist

🎯 DMAIC-Specific (5 tools)

🧪 Hypothesis Testing
🔬 Design of Experiments
📉 Regression Analysis
⚫ Scatter Diagram
✅ Check Sheet
📊 Total: 18 Professional Quality Tools
11 shared + 2 APQP-specific + 5 DMAIC-specific

Phase-level tool mapping is being defined as part of the APQPSigma methodology model.

🎬 Live Project View

🎯 DMAIC Project: Reduce Cycle Time by 30%

D
Define
M
Measure
A
Analyze
I
Improve
C
Control

📋 Analyze Phase Tasks (3/5 complete)

✅ Collect process data
✅ Perform capability analysis (Cpk = 0.87)
✅ Run hypothesis testing (p < 0.001)
⬜ Identify root causes (use Fishbone)
⬜ Validate findings with DOE
💡 AI Recommendation: Your Cpk is below target (0.87). Consider running a Fishbone diagram session, then use DOE in the Improve phase to find optimal settings.