APQP vs VDA MLA (Maturity Level Assurance)
AIAG APQP and the VDA Maturity Level Assurance (MLA) for new parts compared: phases vs maturity levels, measurement criteria, traffic lights and when customers ask for which.
Two views of the same launch
APQP describes the activities and deliverables of a launch in five phases. VDA MLA (maturity level assurance for new parts) measures the maturity of the project at eight reference points (RG0 to RG7) with fixed criteria and traffic lights. Many suppliers use APQP internally and report MLA to German customers.
Comparison
| Aspect | AIAG APQP | VDA MLA |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 5 phases with deliverables | 8 maturity levels RG0–RG7 |
| Focus | What to do | How mature the project is at each milestone |
| Output | Deliverables, gate reviews, PPAP | Traffic-light status per measurement criterion |
| Supply chain | Supplier APQP as required | Explicitly cascaded to sub-suppliers |
| Typical users | AIAG / North American OEMs, global | German OEMs and suppliers |
Tip
Map your APQP deliverables to the MLA criteria once. Then the same project data serves both reports, and nothing is done twice.
Written by Ľubomír Blažek, automotive quality manager. Standards are summarised in our own words; use the official publications for formal work.