CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT GP-8 PURPOSE: GP-8 defines the supplier's responsibility to have an on-going process for continuously improving the product by improving manufacturing processes to reduce variation and to insure the process has capability and stability over time. It outlines the customer expectations for the suppliers after a part has satisfactorily completed Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and Early Production Containment (GP-12). (See page 8.) SCOPE - The GP-8 procedural criteria applies to all General Motors suppliers, including General Motors allied and affiliated manufacturing operations, and is applicable for all parts and materials even when the customer has not requested data to be provided. BASIC QUALITY REQUIREMENTS - All suppliers are required to have in place quality systems that insure parts shipped to the customer meet specification. Further they are expected to have an action plan and the necessary controls to maintain and improve the process capability of designated key product characteristics (KPC's). BASIC QUALITY MEASURES - In evaluating their effectiveness in meeting the basic requirements of GP-8, the supplier should monitor the following measures: A. Voice of the customer. These measures reflect quality performance as seen by the customer. ?Defective parts shipped to the customer. This measure represents the number of non-conforming parts found at the customer's location, and is expressed in parts per million (PPM). ?Compliance with GP-5. Problem Reporting and Resolution (PR/Rs) are issued by the customers for problems in connection with a supplier's quality, packaging and delivery performance. Specifically measured are timely response and the elimination of repeated nonconformance...
