Process · Reliability & Quality
Safe launch
A period at the start of series production with added inspection, tighter reaction and close review, kept until agreed evidence shows the process is stable.
- Also known as
- Early production containment
- Type
- Process
- Domain
- Reliability & Quality, Quality systems
Overview
Safe launch protects the customer while a newly approved part moves into series production. Extra checks are added on top of the production control plan, and quality and delivery are reviewed closely, because new processes are most likely to show problems early.
How it works
A safe launch plan is agreed before start of production. It lists the added inspections, the characteristics they cover, the tighter reaction rules and who reviews the results, often daily.
Results are tracked against exit criteria agreed with the customer, such as a number of lots or a period without defects or escapes. When the criteria are met, the added checks are removed and the production control plan alone applies.
If problems are found, they go through structured problem solving, and the safe launch may be extended.
Examples
- Added final test screens on the first production lots of a new part.
- Daily quality reviews with the customer for the first weeks of production.
- Exit from safe launch after the agreed number of lots with no escapes.
- A safe launch extended after a complaint during the first month.
Why it matters
Quality engineers, manufacturing operations managers and customer quality engineers run safe launch. In the APQP lifecycle it follows PPAP approval and its exit marks the hand-over to series production under change control.
It matters most to: APQP and PPAP Engineer, Automotive Quality Engineer (IATF 16949), Customer Quality Engineer (Automotive)
Common confusions
- Not the same as Containment
- Containment reacts to a problem that has been found; safe launch is planned in advance to catch problems in early production before they reach the customer.
Sources
- CP-1 Control Plan (opens in a new tab), AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group), 2026-11-10
- Explore APQP and Control Plan Manuals, Training, eLearning, and More! (opens in a new tab), AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group), 2026-11-10
Related terms
Part of the Reliability & Quality glossary, with every term in the topic and the lifecycles, tools and standards that use them.
Where it appears on the Hub
Used on 3 pages of the Hub. In each group, the pages that mention it most come first.
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Last reviewed . Written by The Semiconductor Hub editorial team. The full glossary