Secure on-site engineering coverage for new product introduction, from supplier selection through stable production. At AmrepMexico, our specialists work inside your supplier's facility to manage APQP, PPAP, first article inspection, run at rate, and safe launch for OEM programs.
Book an NPI Launch Review TodayBuyers often use these terms interchangeably. In practice, they are sequential parts of one launch.
| Term | What it is | When it happens | Who approves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPI | The full program from concept to stable production | Entire launch lifecycle | OEM program team |
| APQP | The quality planning framework inside NPI | Kickoff through launch | Cross-functional team |
| FAI | Verification of the first production part against the design | Before or within PPAP | OEM quality |
| PPAP | Evidence that the process can consistently produce conforming parts | End of validation | OEM supplier quality |
| Safe launch | Added containment after first production shipment | Start of production until exit | OEM supplier quality |
From supplier readiness to safe launch, our local engineers provide on-site NPI quality support at every critical stage of your Mexico launch.
We assess your supplier's launch readiness in Mexico before award or at program kickoff. The review scores capacity, equipment, quality system maturity, sub-tier controls, and staffing. You receive a gap report with corrective actions mapped to your launch timeline.
We review drawings, GD&T, and DFMEA outputs with the supplier's manufacturing team before tooling is released. The review flags features that are hard to produce or measure at the supplier. Your design engineers receive DFM feedback while changes are still inexpensive.
We own the APQP timing plan at the supplier and track every deliverable to closure. This covers feasibility commitments, the special characteristics matrix, and open issue lists, all managed from the supplier floor. You receive APQP PPAP support in Mexico with weekly status in your preferred format.
We ensure that critical sub-suppliers have completed their own PPAP and can support your volumes. The check covers raw material, casting, plating, and heat treat sources. You find constraints before they delay the start of production.
We facilitate PFMEA sessions with the supplier's process, production, and quality leads using the AIAG VDA format. Control plans progress from prototype to pre-launch to production, with every high-risk failure mode linked to a defined control. You receive documents that reflect the actual process on the floor.
We witness tool tryouts and the acceptance of capital equipment against your specifications. Dimensional results from each trial are recorded in a format ready for PPAP. You avoid repeating layouts and studies later in the launch.
We plan and run gauge R&R, attribute agreement analysis, and preliminary capability studies on production tooling. When a measurement system fails, we identify whether the gauge, the method, or the operator needs correction. You receive capability data built on a trusted measurement system.
We perform first article inspection in Mexico, verifying every drawing characteristic against the released design. The service supports AIAG dimensional layouts, AS9102 forms for aerospace, and PCBA first articles for electronics. You receive a complete record that ties each characteristic to a measured result.
We build, review, or recover PPAP packages at the submission level your customer requires. Each package is checked for common rejection causes, including missing customer-specific requirements, incomplete dimensional coverage, prototype-based capability studies, revision mismatches, and gaps in material certifications or IMDS entries. You submit a package with fewer rejection cycles.
We witness production at the quoted rate using production tooling, operators, and gauges. Output, downtime, and scrap are recorded across the full run. You receive a capacity report that compares demonstrated output with contracted volume.
We validate that approved packaging protects parts through cross-border transit and handling. The validation covers dunnage fit, labeling, and part condition after shipment. You catch damage risks before they reach your receiving dock.
We provide safe launch support in Mexico by staffing containment stations at the supplier. Inspection data and exit criteria are tracked daily, and headcount scales with production volume during ramp. You receive clear evidence when the supplier is ready for customer approval to exit.
We manage ECNs that arrive mid-launch before they reach production. Each change is reflected in the PFMEA, control plan, work instructions, and PPAP status. You get every change tracked through implementation and verification.
We maintain Spanish operator documents and English engineering records under a single revision control. Work instructions, inspection sheets, and reaction plans are checked against the approved control plan. You get floor documents and engineering records that stay aligned throughout the launch.
Every engagement follows the same five steps, whether you need full launch coverage or support for a single gate.
We review your drawings, customer-specific requirements, timing, and target supplier. You receive a scope, staffing plan, and gate calendar at kickoff.
We compare the supplier's current capability against your launch requirements on site. You receive a gap list that becomes the program's action plan.
We place an engineer at the supplier to oversee trial runs, MSA, PFMEA updates, and escalations. You get issues resolved at the source as they appear.
We prepare the supplier for each gate and report capability, gauge R&R, yield, PPM, and run at rate against AIAG thresholds. You receive objective evidence of launch status at every gate.
We transfer all documentation and open actions after the supplier exits safe launch. You keep the full launch history as the part moves into steady production.
Automotive launches often stack requirements from the OEM, Tier 1, and global customers. We map every customer-specific requirement before APQP starts.
Aerospace programs depend on special process sources and strict first article control. We track FAI status as design changes, process changes, or production gaps occur.
Medical device launches often transfer validated processes from US sites to Mexican plants. We oversee IQ, OQ, and PQ execution on site.
Electronics programs move through multiple builds with frequent BOM changes. We control revisions so each build tests the intended design.
OEMs choose AmrepMexico for engineering support that stays involved from launch planning through production ramp-up.
Our engineers communicate directly with supplier leadership in Spanish and report to your team in English. Technical decisions aren't lost in translation between the floor and your engineering office.
One team works with IATF 16949, AS9145, ISO 13485, and IPC requirements. This matters when a single supplier builds parts for more than one sector.
AmrepMexico has operated in Mexico since 1994 as part of the global AMREPInspect group. Our most senior engineers have more than 20 years of experience with Mexican manufacturers and with OEMs from the US, Canada, and Europe.
We build IMMEX tooling records, sample customs paperwork, and USMCA origin checks into your gate calendar, so trade steps don't hold up the start of production.
Launch issues are solved with Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methods. Fixes target process causes instead of adding inspection.
The same partner that supports your launch can also provide supplier audits, quality inspections, production management, and supplier data analytics afterward.
AmrepMexico can support a complete launch with a resident engineer at the supplier, or provide targeted support for milestones such as PPAP, run at rate, and gate readiness reviews. Surge coverage is also available when multiple launches overlap. Once the launch is complete, we can also help you hire quality engineers in Mexico for permanent roles.
| Factor | Send your own team | Hire a local engineer | AmrepMexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Travel, visas, and recurring costs | Requires a recruiting cycle | Local engineers already in Mexico |
| Spanish coverage | Usually limited | Yes | Yes |
| Scaling between launches | Hard to flex | Fixed headcount | Scales per program |
| Commitment | Internal headcount | Employment obligations | Contracted by scope |
We support launches in Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Monterrey, and Reynosa. Border operations frequently handle medical device, electronics, and automotive transfers from US sites.
Coverage includes Guadalajara, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí for electronics, aerospace, and automotive programs. These hubs include many Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers whose APQP maturity needs early verification.
We cover Mexico City, Puebla, and surrounding industrial zones, focusing on automotive and industrial product launches.
See how OEMs and manufacturers rely on AmrepMexico for local quality expertise, supplier oversight, and dependable inspection support throughout Mexico.
I was looking for a quality inspection service where I could trust the inspection results. The team of experts at AmrepMexico is able to provide this service with their in-depth knowledge of the industry and their high-level experience.
Saurabh KarangutkarAMREP makes my top 3 best supplier companies to work with. They have provided a great quality of service and have been able to get the job done and still provide the quality that is needed.
Jack MartemI needed to find an inspection company that has experts who can help me with my tech gadgets. I needed a local company in Mexico, one that has an outstanding reputation and is reasonably priced.
Natalia SkylarAn NPI quality engineer makes sure a new product can be built to specification before full production starts. The role covers risk analysis, measurement planning, process validation, and approval documentation, and it ends once the part reaches stable output. The engineer acts as the link between your design intent and the supplier's production floor.
An NPI quality engineer focuses on getting a new part approved and launched. A supplier quality engineer manages an existing supplier's ongoing performance through audits, PPM tracking, and corrective actions. Many programs use both, with responsibility shifting from the NPI role to the SQE role after launch.
The customer rejects the submission or grants interim approval with conditions, and the supplier has to correct the gaps and resubmit. Rejection often delays shipments and can trigger added containment. The fastest recovery comes from fixing the root cause, not just the paperwork, before the next submission.
No. GP-12 is a General Motors requirement for early production containment on parts that require PPAP. Other OEMs use their own safe launch procedures with different entry and exit rules. Your customer-specific requirements define which containment applies and when the supplier may exit.
Yes. Recovery engagements start with a rapid gap review to separate open deliverables from real process risks. From there, we rebuild the timing plan around the remaining gates and focus engineering effort on the items most likely to block PPAP approval or start of production.
Yes, the supplier needs to grant access, and this is usually arranged through your purchase terms or supply agreement. We coordinate facility access, safety requirements, and confidentiality expectations with the supplier before work begins, so the engineer can start without disrupting production.
Cost depends on scope, duration, the number of engineers, supplier location, and the industry standards involved. Full resident coverage costs more than gate reviews or single milestone support. Containment volume during safe launch also affects staffing. We define cost during the scope review, based on your actual program.
Yes. Our engineers support launches at OEM-owned facilities as well as at contract manufacturers and suppliers. The scope adjusts to your internal team, filling gaps in APQP, validation, or containment instead of duplicating functions you already have.
You receive scheduled status reports in your preferred format, plus immediate escalation for issues that put a gate at risk. Programs that need live visibility can connect launch data to a supplier quality dashboard, so your team sees progress without waiting for the next report.
Tell us about your part, supplier, and timeline, and we'll propose an NPI quality support plan built around your gates.
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