New user- hope this comes through ok! (eek!) I am doing a 4th edition PPAP and I notice that the flowchart has changed on my new format that we purchased. My question is, how specific should I be in the "evaluation/analysis methods"? This column was not on my 3rd edition. I notice it's not a really big column, so in the case of machining does a description of "certified lab. equipment" satisfy the criteria? Or should I call out all the equipment used to verify parts during the machining process, ie: micrometers, profilometer, snap gages, indicators. Any help would be appreciated!

New user- hope this comes through ok! (eek!) I am doing a 4th edition PPAP and I notice that the flowchart has changed on my new format that we purchased. My question is, how specific should I be in the "evaluation/analysis methods"? This column was not on my 3rd edition. I notice it's not a really big column, so in the case of machining does a description of "certified lab. equipment" satisfy the criteria? Or should I call out all the equipment used to verify parts during the machining process, ie: micrometers, profilometer, snap gages, indicators. Any help would be appreciated!

First, welcome to the Cove :D

I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "new format we purchased." Some software? At any rate, there is no prescribed format for process flowcharts. Personally, I don't like a lot of extraneous detail and like to stick with a basic depiction of the sequence of operations, starting with incoming raw materials and ending with shipment. You might find some utility in more detail, however, or your customer might have a preferred format.

If you do use a "canned" template, you might want to be careful about leaving a lot of fields blank, as it might give the appearance that the chart isn't complete.

Thanks- and yes, we purchased the new 4th edition generic format online. My feeling was that this newly added column would be pretty generic, being we address the issues within the FMEA and control plan. This is a critical PPAP and I just want to make sure I've got all the changes addressed between the 3rd and 4th editions.

This is a critical PPAP and I just want to make sure I've got all the changes addressed between the 3rd and 4th editions.

I think that's a wise idea; I suspect that for a time, until the 4th Edition novelty wears off, customers will be paying more attention to the changeover than to the substance of the package. I know this was the case when the 3rd Edition was released.

Hey Jim, while we're at it: This new flowchart references a "delay" symbol. What is the criteria for using a "delay" symbol? It seems redundent to use it along with the storage symbol, plus its not a very lean thing to admit to. Boy did I like my old system!

Hey Jim, while we're at it: This new flowchart references a "delay" symbol. What is the criteria for using a "delay" symbol? It seems redundent to use it along with the storage symbol, plus its not a very lean thing to admit to. Boy did I like my old system!

I have no idea. Like I said, I try to avoid unnecessary detail. I also don't understand why "delay" should be something planned, because by definition a delay is a postponement--an interruption of planned activity. "Storage," using this definition of "delay," isn't necessarily unplanned; automotive customers often expect a prescribed level of "safety stock."