Advanced Product Quality Planning¶
The APQP system is a task management system. Each item in the APQP system has a series of tasks associated with it. Users are assigned tasks, and progress can be tracked through the system.
Task Template¶
Before using the APQP system, project phases and task categories must be defined, and a task template created. In the APQP system, tasks are grouped into categories, like Sales, and Engineering; you can define as many categories as needed.
The Task Template is used to initialize the tasks for a new Item. Tasks are grouped by category in the template.
Creating Project Phases¶
To create Project Phases, navigate to the 
tab and click on the 
icon.
The system will display the Task Template screen, select the Phases tab.
Click on the 
button to add a new phase.
Fill in the phase and description, click the 
icon to save your changes.
Creating Categories¶
To create task categories, click on the icon under
The system will display the ‘Task Template’ screen, select the Category tab.
Click on the 
button to add a new category.
Fill in the category and description, click the icon to save your changes.
Creating the Task Template¶
To create the task template, click on the icon under
The system will display the ‘Task Template’ screen, select the Tasks tab.
Click on the 
button to add a new task.
Fill in the task name and select a phase and category by clicking on the button in the column.
You can assign the task to a user, or leave it blank. To set the default due date for the task, click on the button in the ‘due date’ column.
You can make the task due relative to the issue date, or ppap date. Enter the number of days.
Click the icon to save your changes.
Using the APQP System¶
Creating a New Job¶
There are three different ways to add a new planned job to the system. The first way is to press the Ctrl + Shift + N keys. The second way is to navigate to File > New > Planned Job
The last way is the click on the 
button, and then on the ‘Planned Job’ option.
All of these three options will open a ‘New Planned Job Screen’.
Enter all the relevant Planned Job information and click the icon to save your changes.
Note
**Changing the issued on or ppap date will update all tasks with new due dates based on the offset set in the task template
Finding a Job¶
There are two types of jobs in the APQP module: Planned Jobs (or jobs that are currently active), and Completed Jobs.
In Planned Jobs¶
To open an active planned job, click on the 
icon under
Select the job you wish to view by double-clicking on the row. This will open the ‘Planned Job Details’ screen.
In Completed Jobs¶
To open a completed, click on the 
icon under
Select the job you wish to view by double-clicking on the row. This will open the ‘Planned Job Details’ screen.
Modifying an Existing Job¶
To modify an existing job, click on the icon under
Select the job you wish to modify by double-clicking on the row. This will open the ‘Planned Job Details’ screen.
Modify all the relevant Planned Job information and click the icon to save your changes .
Creating a New Revision¶
To create a New Revision of a job, click on the icon under
Select the job you wish to create the New Revision from by double-clicking on the row. This will open the ‘Planned Job Details’ screen.
Select the Create New Revision from apqp menu and a copy of Planned Job will be created.
Modify all the relevant Planned Job information for the revision and click the icon to save your changes.
Updating Task Status¶
Select the task that you wish to update the status and right click, this will display a menu from which you must select Change Status. Then select the status you wish to set the task to.
Adding a New Task¶
There are two different places to add a task in the system. You can add a task directly to a task template, or add a task to the ‘Planned Job’ screen Task panel
To Task Template¶
To create the task in the task template, click on the icon under
The system will display the ‘Task Template’ screen, select the Tasks tab.
Click on the button to add a new task.
Fill in the task name and select a phase and category by clicking on the button in the column.
You can assign the task to a user, or leave it blank. To set the default due date for the task, click on the button in the ‘due date’ column.
You can make the task due relative to the issue date, or ppap date. Enter the number of days.
Click the icon to save your changes.
To Planned Job Task panel¶
To create the task in the planned job, right click the mouse on the Category or Task to display the menu and select New Task
Fill in the task name and select a phase and category by clicking on the button in the column.
You can assign the task to a user, or leave it blank. To set the default due date for the task, click on the button in the ‘due date’ column.
You can make the task due relative to the issue date, or ppap date. Enter the number of days.
Click the icon to save your changes.
To Engineering Tasks¶
To add a new engineering task navigate to the tab, clicking on the 
icon.
The system will bring up the ‘Engineering Tasks’ screen.
Modifying a Task¶
There are two different places to modify a task in the system. You can modify from the ‘Current Tasks’ or the ‘Planned Job’ screen Task panel
Current Tasks¶
To modify a task navigate to the tab, clicking on the icon.
The system will bring up the ‘Current Tasks’ screen.
Select the task you wish to modify by double-clicking on the task row. This will open the ‘Task Details’ screen.
You have the ability to modify the task in the following ways:
- Assigned to
- Category
- Due
- Status
- Priority
- Value
- Comments
You also have the ability to view comments, add an attachment, view the history of the changes, and view and linked tasks. When you have finished making your changes,
click on the 
button to save your changes..
Note
**You can open a job directly from the ‘Current Tasks’ screen. Simply highlight a task of the job you wish to open, and click on the 
button.**
Planned Job Task panel¶
Modify the phase and category by clicking on the button in the column.
You can assign the task to a user, or leave it blank. To set the default due date for the task, click on the button in the ‘due date’ column.
You can make the task due relative to the issue date, or ppap date. Enter the number of days.
Click the icon to save your changes.
Linking Tasks¶
You have the ability to link tasks to each other in the APQP system. The purpose of this is to link tasks, so that tasks are connected and must be completed together.
Project Phases¶
Updating the Project Phases¶
To modify the Project Phases Start and End Dates of an apqp job, open the ‘Planned Job Listing’ screen, and select and open the job.
The ‘Planned Job Detail’ screen will be displayed showing the tasks, click on the Phases 
tab.
On the ‘Phases’ panel enter the Start and End Date for each of the Phases, or click on the 
button
in the Start and End Date to select from the calendar. Click the icon to save your changes.
On the ‘Phases’ panel by right clicking the mouse on the row a menu is displayed. You have the ability to select a menu item do the following:
- Move the phase down
- Move the phase up
- Toggle the phase from Available to Not Available and back
Adding Pictures¶
To add a picture to an apqp job, open the ‘Planned Job Listing’ or ‘Completed Job Listing’ screen, and select and open the job you wish to add the picture too.
The ‘Info’ panel is on the right side of the screen. Too add a new picture, click on the 
button.
The system will then allow you to browse your computer to find the picture you wish to add.
You also have the ability to type in a description of the picture you added in the text box beneath it. Don’t forget to save your changes before exiting the screen.
Deleting a Picture¶
To delete a picture from an apqp job, open the to the ‘Planned Job Listing’ or ‘Completed Job Listing’ screen, and select and open the job you wish to delete the picture from.
The ‘Info’ panel is on the right side of the screen. Too delete a picture, click on the 
button. The picture will be immediately removed.
Adding Comments and Attachments to Tasks¶
To add a comment or attachment to an apqp job, open the to the ‘Planned Job Listing’ or ‘Completed Job Listing’ screen, and select and open the job you wish to add the comment or attachment too.
Note
You must have a task selected before you can add a comment or attachment to it.
To add a comment, select the 
tab, and then the 
button.
The system will add a table where you can enter your comments in the text box provided.
To add an attachment, select the 
tab, and then the 
button.
The system will then allow you to browse your computer to find the attachment you wish to add.
Save your changes before exiting the screen.
Adding Notes to a Job¶
To add a note to an apqp job, navigate to the ‘Planned Job Listing’ or ‘Completed Job Listing’ screen, and select and open the job you wish to add the note too. At the bottom of the screen, click on the
tab, and then select the 
button.
A new table will be added in the ‘Notes’ section, and you can type in the information you require. Make sure the save your changes before you leave the screen.
Adding Attachments to a Job¶
You can add an attachment for the job, and not just to a task as explained above. You must have the tab selected in order to add an attachment to the job.
When the tab is selected, you will notice that the system will show any previous attachments that were added to the job, as well as enable you to select the
button to add a new attachment to the job.
The system will then allow you to browse your computer to find the attachment you wish to add.
Reports¶
APQP reports can be found by navigating to the tab, clicking on the 
icon.
This will bring up the ‘Report Viewer’ screen.
There are numerous reports linked to APQP. To view a report, simply select the report you wish to view using the drop-down menu, and click the
button.
This will allow you to view the report you selected. Depending on the report you selected, you will be able to view additional information on the left side of the screen (i.e. Customers, Jobs, Categories, etc.). For this particular report, you have the ability to select the job you wish to view, and further drill down to see the category (i.e. Quality, Engineering).
You have various options that you can perform when viewing a report; these options are located in the icon menu above the report.
The 
icon allows you to export the report and save it to a location in a variety of formats (i.e. .pdf,.doc,.xls, etc.)
The 
icon allows you to print the report.
The 
icon refreshes the report.
The 
icon allows you show/hide the menu to the left of the report.
The 
icon allows you to select a certain page of the report and jump to that page.
The 
icon allows you to search the report for text.
The 
icon allows you to adjust the size of the report you’re viewing.
Deleting Categories and Tasks¶
Project Dashboard¶
The Project Dashboard can be accessed from the Planned Job Listing screen by right clicking the mouse to display
menu item. It can also be selected from the apqp
menu from the Planned Job Detail screen.
The Project Dashboard provides a summary view of project activity. Tasks are assigned to project phases, and colour coding is used to highlight tasks that need attention.
The Project Dashboard detail allows the user to double click a task to view the task details. If you want to include tasks that are already closed, click the Show Closed Tasks option.
By right clicking the mouse on the Task a menu is displayed. You have the ability to select a menu item to do the following:
- Move the task down
- Move the task up
- Edit the task
- Change the task status
Select the task you wish to modify by double-clicking on the task row. This will open the ‘Task Details’ screen.
You have the ability to modify the task in the following ways:
- Assigned to
- Category
- Due
- Status
- Priority
- Value
- Comments
You also have the ability to view comments, add an attachment, view the history of the changes, and view and linked tasks. When you have finished making your changes,
click on the button.
By right clicking the mouse on the Task a menu is displayed. You have the ability to select a menu item to do the following:
- Move the task down
- Move the task up
- Edit the task
- Change the task status