Precision measurement of an automotive metal component

QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN AUTOMOTIVE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Quality begins
before SOP.
And proves itself
in production.

From advance quality planning to sustainable series support: structured methods, sound assessments and effective supplier development.

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APQPPPAP / PPFCore ToolsSupplier developmentVDA 6.3

PLAN QUALITYASSURE PROCESSESDEVELOP SUPPLIERS

PRACTICAL · SYSTEMATIC · TRANSPARENT

Quality is no
coincidence.

When new products are industrialised or existing production processes fall short, proven methods and well-founded decisions are essential.

SQM by Mario Erk provides hands-on supplier quality and APQP project support to companies and their suppliers: from APQP implementation and quality gate reviews to PPAP/PPF document reviews, root cause analysis and supplier improvement.

Learn more about SQM

20 yearsautomotive industry experience

Before & after SOPSupport throughout the product lifecycle

Remote & on-siteFlexible project collaboration

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Services at a glance.

Targeted support in two key phases – connected by process-audit expertise.

PLANNING & INDUSTRIALISATIONSOPSERIES PRODUCTION

01 / PROJECT PHASE

Before SOP

Advance Quality Planning & Industrialisation

Quality Gate Reviews

Review of quality maturity, project risks and compliance with defined gate-release criteria at key milestones.

APQP Implementation & Operational Application

Integration of APQP into business processes and hands-on delivery of quality planning tasks in development and industrialisation projects.

PPAP / PPF Preparation & Documentation Review

Review of all PPAP/PPF documents for completeness, plausibility and consistency across the documentation.

Process Launch Assessment

Structured assessment of process and production readiness prior to start of production.

Request pre-SOP support

02 / SERIES PHASE

After SOP

Supplier Development & Series Quality Assurance

Supplier development

Supplier development through assessment of quality performance and complaints, targeted improvement actions and effectiveness checks.

Audit Preparation & Nonconformity Management

Preparation for VDA 6.3 process audits, structured management of audit findings and verification of corrective-action effectiveness.

Complaint Management & Problem Solving

Structured 8D problem solving, root cause analysis, corrective actions and sustainable defect elimination.

Continuous Process Improvement

Identification of weaknesses, prioritisation of improvements and verification of effectiveness.

Request post-SOP support

CROSS-PHASE · BEFORE AND AFTER SOP

VDA 6.3 – Process Audit Support

VDA 6.3 audit preparation, project-related process assessments, audit assistance and corrective-action follow-up – before and after SOP, within the agreed scope.

SCOPE OF SUPPORTAlso within your own organisation.

Supplier quality management remains SQM’s primary focus. Where needed, I also deliver selected services – particularly Quality Gate Reviews, APQP implementation and PPAP/PPF document reviews – directly within your own projects and processes.

Services are agreed according to the assignment, scope and required qualifications. Formal product or process approvals remain the responsibility of the authorised organisation.

EXPERTISE THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE

From robust processes
to sustainable quality.

Quality planning and project review next to a production line

01 / ADVANCE QUALITY PLANNING

BEFORE SOP

Assure early. Manage risk.

A sound APQP framework, clear quality milestones and reliable release documentation provide the foundation for a controlled production launch.

Quality specialist reviewing documents in an automotive production facility

02 / SERIES QUALITY ASSURANCE

AFTER SOP

Understand deviations. Improve effectively.

Transparent root cause analyses, disciplined corrective-action follow-up and focused supplier development strengthen stable series processes.

ABOUT SQM

Technical insight.
Methodical clarity.

SQM by Mario Erk provides practical supplier quality management support, combining technical depth, clear methods and a strong focus on real-world implementation.

I bring 20 years of automotive industry experience, particularly in project management, advance quality planning, APQP, PPAP/PPF and supplier development. My approach connects the requirements of engineering, production and quality assurance.

TÜV-certified Supplier Quality Manager

APQP and VDA Maturity Level Assurance

PPAP / PPF and Automotive Core Tools (FMEA, MSA, SPC)

Structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5 Why and Ishikawa

Mario Erk · Owner, SQM

CLEAR PROCESSES · TRACEABLE RESULTS

How I work with you.

Focused support instead of unnecessary complexity – from clearly defined assignments to ongoing project assistance.

Enquiry & objectives

Align on the current situation, requirements and objectives.

Initial assessment

Review available documents, process maturity and required actions.

Implementation

Execute agreed tasks systematically – remotely or on-site.

Results & actions

Document and discuss findings and recommendations transparently.

Individual project support: When internal capacity is limited or specialist quality expertise is needed, I support existing teams – including those in small and medium-sized companies. Clearly defined APQP or supplier quality tasks can be agreed individually.

CONTACT & PROJECT ENQUIRIES

Tell me about
your quality goals
and your project.

Need APQP implementation, PPAP/PPF document reviews or supplier development support? I look forward to your enquiry.

Send a non-binding enquiry

ENQUIRY FORM

Your enquiry to SQM

Briefly describe your request. I will respond personally.