When an OEM buyer asks whether you are “PPAP capable,” they are really asking whether they can trust your parts into their supply chain without surprises. For custom filter components — especially in automotive and demanding industrial programs — PPAP is often the gate you must pass before the first production order ships. Getting it right the first time shortens your launch; getting it wrong sends the whole package back and delays the program.
What PPAP is
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is a standardized method, originating with the AIAG in the North American automotive industry, for a supplier to prove that it understands every requirement on the customer’s drawing and specification and can produce the part consistently at production volume, at the production tooling and rate. It is not a single test — it is a documented package, built from the same evidence a well-run shop already generates, submitted for the customer to review and approve before mass production is released.
The five PPAP submission levels
PPAP defines five levels that set how much of the package you actually send to the customer, even though you compile all of it:
- Level 1 — Part Submission Warrant (PSW) only.
- Level 2 — PSW with product samples and limited supporting data.
- Level 3 — PSW with samples and full supporting data (the most common default).
- Level 4 — PSW plus whatever the customer specifically requires.
- Level 5 — full documentation reviewed on-site at your facility.
Most new filter programs are launched at Level 3.
What a submission typically includes
- Design records and drawings — the released drawing and specification the part is built to.
- Dimensional results — every drawing dimension measured and recorded on actual parts, tied to a ballooned print.
- Material and performance test records — certifications that the stainless grade and its mechanical and corrosion properties meet spec, backed by an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate traceable to the heat of steel, plus any bubble-point, flow or burst testing.
- Process flow diagram, control plan and PFMEA — showing the process from incoming wire and sheet through weaving, cutting, welding, passivation (ASTM A967) and final inspection is controlled and its failure modes are managed.
- Measurement system analysis (MSA) and process capability studies — Gage R&R on the gauges and Cpk/Ppk on the critical characteristics, as evidence the process is repeatable, not just that one sample passed.
- Part Submission Warrant (PSW) — the summary sign-off document that ties the whole package together.
The exact level of documentation is agreed with the customer up front, so both sides know what “approved” will require.
Why buyers require it
PPAP gives the buyer confidence that the part will be right batch after batch, and fully traceable if a field question or recall arises. It shifts the relationship from “the sample looked good” to “documented, capable, repeatable production” — which is what a serious supply chain requires, and what protects a safety- or emissions-critical filter downstream. It sits directly on top of an ISO 9001 quality management system: the control plan, traceability and calibration PPAP asks for are the same disciplines ISO 9001 already demands, which is why an ISO-certified shop can assemble a package far faster.
How PPAP relates to specifying the part
A clean PPAP starts with a clean specification — grade, weave, micron rating (nominal or absolute), tolerances and critical characteristics all called out before tooling is cut. Our guide on how to specify a stainless steel filter covers the inputs that make a submission go smoothly the first time.
PPAP at Xingma
We are PPAP capable and support custom filter programs with ballooned dimensional reports, material certifications, control plans and the level of documentation your approval process requires. See our Quality & Certifications and Automotive Filtration pages, or bring us a drawing through our custom solutions process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PPAP only for automotive?
It began in automotive but is now requested across many industrial OEM programs that need documented, repeatable parts.
Do you provide full PPAP packages?
Yes — the documentation level is agreed per program; we support dimensional, material and process documentation up to a Part Submission Warrant.
Does PPAP slow down my first order?
It adds an approval step up front, but it prevents far costlier problems later by proving the part and process before volume. Submitting a complete, correct package the first time is the fastest route through it.
What PPAP level do most filter programs use?
Level 3 — full supporting data plus the PSW — is the common default; the customer confirms the level at kickoff.
Need a PPAP-supported filter? Send your drawing and program requirements and we’ll quote a part with the documentation to match. Request a quote →