Team Protrak is heading to Build Expo 2026 — Tampa
See how leading precast teams are digitizing element tracking, production & site execution.
Meet us at
Booth #432
From
4-6 Feb 2026
Build Automotive Quality,
Gate by Gate.
Protrak's APQP solution digitizes every phase — from RFQ to SOP — with full traceability, cross-functional visibility, and audit readiness. No more missed gates. No more spreadsheet sprawl.
The Problem
Why APQP Often Breaks Down
Automotive APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is designed to bring rigor and discipline to new product development. But in real-world scenarios, it often ends up looking like this:
Fragmented Communication
Teams work in isolation, leading to misalignment and delays across the APQP lifecycle.
Lack of Gate Visibility
Without a centralized system, tracking gate status and ownership becomes guesswork.
Supplier Collaboration Challenges
Coordinating inputs and approvals with suppliers is slow and lacks structure.
Limited Traceability and Document Control
Version control for DFMEAs, quotations, process flow, control plans, and PPAP documents is often inconsistent and audit-unready.
Manual, Spreadsheet-Driven Processes
Spreadsheets and emails dominate planning and documentation, making processes time-consuming, prone to errors, and causing avoidable delays.
Inability to Scale Across Projects
As projects grow, manual APQP processes become unmanageable and error-prone.
Protrak - The Solution
A Purpose-Built Platform for APQP Excellence
Protrak eliminates the complexity and fragmentation of traditional APQP processes by offering a centralized, low-code platform tailored for automotive manufacturers.
Digitized End-to-End Workflows
Manage the entire APQP lifecycle — from RFQ to SOP — in a single, connected system.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Unite NPD, QA, Purchase, Marketing, HR, Production and Management teams with shared workflows and live updates.
NPD
QA
Purchase
Production
Marketing
HR
Gate Reviews & Alerts
Automate milestone tracking, set reminders, and ensure on-time approvals.
Centralized Document Control
Store and manage DFMEAs, quotations, feasibility reports, process flows, control plans, and PPAP docs with full version history.
DFMEA_EngineMount_V1.pdf
NPD
Version: 1.0
External Stakeholder Access
Collaborate seamlessly with suppliers and customers via secure, role-based access.
IATF-Ready Dashboards
Gain real-time visibility into gate status, documentation, and audit readiness.
Phase 1
Plan & Define Program
RFQ and Enquiry Management
Capture and organize part enquiries and RFQs in a centralized system with full traceability.
Cross-Functional Team Approvals
Form project-specific teams with defined roles and automate multi-level approvals.
Feasibility Studies
Evaluate commercial, technical, and risk feasibility to ensure project viability from the start.
Manufacturing Readiness
Assess process flows, raw material requirements, drawing feasibility, deviations, and change requests to validate manufacturability.
Contract Review Workflows
Standardize reviews with checklists and ensure compliance with customer requirements.
TGW/TGR Insights
Link and review existing Things Gone Wrong/Right to reduce risks in the early phases.
Quotation Lifecycle Management
Track quotation versions, customer negotiations, and linked LOI/PO milestones.
Product Development Form (PDF)
Maintain version-controlled documentation for project scope and deliverables.
Phase 2
Product Design & Development
Concept Development
Define the initial product vision and scope based on market and business objectives.
Market research
Gather insights into market demand, competitors, and trends to guide design direction.
Voice of the customer (VOC)
Capture customer needs and expectations to align product goals.
Benchmarking
Compare with industry standards and competitor products to identify opportunities.
Feasibility Analysis
Evaluate technical and business feasibility before proceeding.
Phase 3
Process Design & Development
- APQP Timing Plans: Define and monitor project timelines with alerts, escalation triggers, and milestone tracking.
- Process Flow & Resource Plan: Define Process details, resources, and tooling requirements in one platform.
- PFMEA (Failure Modes Analysis): Conduct both generic and part-specific PFMEA to mitigate production risks.
- Rejection Summary Tracking: Log and analyze rejections to improve first-time quality and reduce waste.
- Control Plan & Work Instructions: Standardize control plans, packaging specs, and work instructions for shop-floor teams.
- Trial Runs & Training Records: Track Trial Runs and maintain training logs to ensure workforce readiness.
Phase 4
Product & Process Validation
PPAP Checklist Management
Maintain a structured checklist for PPAP submissions with automated document linking.
Process & Product Audits
Digitally manage audit schedules, findings, and closures across all validation stages.
MSA & SPC
Manage Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) reports for critical parameters.
Pilot Lot Submissions
Document pilot production runs, customer feedback, and approval statuses.
PSW Sign-Off
Ensure customer-approved PSW with supporting documentation and review history.
ECN & IPC Management
Manage engineering change notices and in-process changes with termination protocols.
8D & NC Reporting
Log non-conformances and corrective actions using 8D methodology and real-time tracking.
200% Inspections & Defect Monitoring
Run intensive checks for high-risk parts with real-time defect dashboards.
Phase 5
Feedback, Assessment & Corrective Action
- PDCA Cycle Execution: Implement structured Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles for every issue and improvement initiative.
- CAPA Management: Log, assign, and close corrective and preventive actions with root cause linkage.
- Final TGW/TGR Consolidation: Document and review key learnings for future product cycles and audits.
- APQP Sign-Off & Production Handover: Ensure smooth transition to mass production with final approvals and knowledge transfer.
- Audit Readiness: Maintain all records in audit-ready formats with dashboards for IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
Real-Time Dashboards & Reporting
Get complete APQP visibility with live dashboards and export-ready reports. Track KPIs, monitor document readiness, and make faster decisions with data at your fingertips.
APQP Stage Tracking
Track the real-time progress of each APQP phase with visual indicators and alerts, ensuring timely completion and better control.
KPI Dashboards
Monitor essential metrics like Time-to-Market, First-Time-Right (FTR), and cycle times to drive performance and accountability.
Audit Readiness Matrix
Quickly assess which documents are ready or pending across APQP gates to ensure compliance with IATF and customer audits.
Part-Level Insights
Dive into detailed reports for each part to evaluate performance, delays, quality issues, and process bottlenecks.
Exportable Reports
Generate and download formatted reports for internal reviews, customer meetings, and third-party audits in just a click.
Seamlessly Connect With Your Existing Systems
Protrak integrates effortlessly with ERP, MES, QA systems, and supplier portals to ensure your APQP data flows without friction across departments and tools.
ERP Integration
Connect with leading ERP systems like SAP B1, Oracle, and others to synchronize part data, orders, and timelines across platforms.
Supplier Sync & BOM Imports
Import supplier data and BOMs via Excel or API to streamline sourcing, reduce duplication, and maintain version accuracy.
Drawing/Document Auto-Versioning
Ensure your teams always work with the latest documents using auto-versioning synced with drawing updates and revisions.
MES and QA System Interfaces
Enable smooth data exchange with shop-floor systems and quality tools to support real-time validations and audit trails.
Why Choose Protrak for APQP?
Protrak transforms APQP from a checklist into a strategic advantage—reducing delays, improving collaboration, and ensuring you're always audit-ready.
Zero Missed Gates
Track every APQP milestone with alerts and dashboards to ensure no gate is skipped or delayed.
Reduced Manual Effort
Automate document control, approvals, and reporting to cut admin overhead by 40–60%.
Real-Time Collaboration
Enable cross-functional teams to work in sync with live updates, shared tasks, and centralized data.
Audit & Compliance Ready
Stay aligned with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements using audit-ready records and traceability.
Modular & Scalable
Start with core workflows and expand as needed—Protrak adapts to your project size and maturity.
Insight-Driven Decisions
Use live dashboards and KPI tracking to make faster, data-backed decisions across every stage of APQP.
Proven Impact, Measurable Results.
See how one of our automotive clients streamlined their APQP process, reduced admin effort, and achieved faster, first-time-right submissions - all with Protrak's low-code platform.
Transform Your APQP Process with Protrak Today
Protrak empowers your team to digitize the full APQP lifecycle—from RFQ to SOP—with real-time collaboration, automation, and audit-ready workflows. Start faster, scale smarter, and deliver better.