Dodging OEM Curveballs: How a Proactive Approach Can Prevent PPAP Delays

Ever faced a last-minute testing requirement that threatened to derail your entire production timeline? It’s a high-pressure situation many suppliers know all too well.

We recently helped a client overcome such a challenge. They’d submitted their PPAP, confident it was complete, only for the OEM to unexpectedly demand…an additional test! This “curveball” could have led to:

1️⃣ Significant Timeline Delays: Days or even weeks lost on production schedules.
2️⃣ Potential PPAP Rejection: All that prior testing work possibly invalidated.
3️⃣ Unplanned Additional Costs: New materials, shipping, and expedited testing hitting the budget hard.

But our proactive approach made all the difference. While other labs might have demanded new material shipments, our standard practice of retaining test materials for 30 days proved invaluable. We immediately conducted the missing test using the samples we had stored, allowing our client to update their PPAP submission without a major hitch.

This success highlights a few key principles we live by:
✅ Deep Industry Experience: Our understanding of automotive approval processes helps us anticipate and prepare for common hurdles.
✅ Client-Focused Approach: “Your Deadline Is Our Priority” isn’t just a slogan; it’s how we provide actionable support when it matters most.
✅ Preventative Practices: Our material retention policy creates a crucial safety net for unexpected OEM requirements.

For automotive suppliers and OEMs, we highly recommend submitting a little extra test material as a standard practice and documenting “lessons learned” from each approval. It’s all about staying ahead!

We’re always ready to help you navigate the complexities of automotive testing and keep your production on schedule.

Got a project in mind, or want to avoid future approval headaches? Book a call or request a quote.