1. Purpose and scope
Approval shows that the process can make good parts; launch shows that it does so day after day at volume, when people, shifts, lots and materials vary more than in the trial. Automotive customers expect the first period of series production to run under a safe launch plan, sometimes called early production containment, that adds checks beyond the production control plan and makes the reaction to any problem faster.
For a chip, safe launch typically means tighter review of test data by lot, extra screens or sampling, closer statistical limits, shorter escalation routes and daily reviews of yield, bins, parametric trends and delivery. The customer may also apply its own launch reviews at its plant. The plan states clearly what the added checks are, how long they last and what evidence ends them.
Capacity is part of launch quality: a line pushed beyond its validated rate is a common source of escapes. The stage confirms that capacity matches the customer's call-offs and that any increase follows the validated rate or is itself validated. The stage ends at safe launch exit, agreed with the customer, after which the part runs under the normal production control plan.
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