Product development process realized between car manufacturers and auto parts suppliers requires special attention regarding its management and interaction between the companies. This paper aims mainly at discussing one of the most used methodologies at this industry, the Advanced Planning for Quality Product (APQP), as well as identifying the key conditions to manage the product development process. It is based on in-depth case studies in the Automotive Industry. It was possible to identify several points of delay on the automaker side; however, suppliers are working collaboratively with assemblers, following closely information that enable them to manage fails, delays, and short commitments. This has extra costs, but reveals that APQP is mainly a tool for managing deadlines, and it cannot avoid internal fails in the car manufacturer or in product quality.
APQP; Product development; Automotive industry
