Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Control Plans reduce the complexity of product quality planning for customers and suppliers by allowing customers to easily communicate their product quality planning requirements to their suppliers. Suppliers gain an understanding of basic industry requirements for achieving part approval from their customer. 
Control Plans summarize the identified process and product parameters required to maintain product conformity. These tools are applicable throughout the supply base in all customer/supplier relationships.

Now the standard across many manufacturing sectors, APQP defines the required inputs and outputs of each stage of the product development process.