Introduction
CQI trainings are aimed at teams that will apply the special process assessment manuals published by AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) at their own facility or audit them at their suppliers.
This page is a roadmap: it explains what CQI is, how it relates to IATF 16949 and which assessment applies to your process. It then points you to the relevant training page.
Table of Contents
What does “special process” mean?
Understanding this concept is the key to understanding why CQI exists.
A special process is a process whose result cannot be fully verified by measurement and inspection right after it is completed. You cannot tell the internal structure of a heat-treated part, the adhesion strength of a plating or the penetration of a weld seam by looking at it. Verifying it usually requires destroying the part — which is not possible for every part.
The consequence: in these processes, quality assurance cannot rest on finished product measurement. The only way to obtain repeatable, conforming product is to keep the process itself under control.
The CQI special process assessments audit exactly that: equipment, parameter control, calibration, personnel competence, the record system. Not the product, but the system that produces it.
The relationship between CQI and IATF 16949
CQI manuals are not independent certification standards; no certificates are issued against them. They come into play through customer-specific requirements (CSRs) under IATF 16949.
In practice it works like this: your OEM or Tier 1 customer makes the CQI assessment a contractual requirement if you run the relevant process. In most cases you are expected to conduct a self-assessment at least once a year and keep the records. These records are requested in customer audits.
There is a second obligation as well: if you purchase these processes externally, the responsibility for verifying your supplier’s conformity rests with you. In other words, if you have parts plated, you may need to know CQI-11 even though you do no plating yourself.
Where to check: Confirm which CQI applies to you from your customer’s CSR document and your contracts. Expectations vary from customer to customer.
Special Process Assessments
Assessments in an on-site audit format, specific to particular production processes:
| Document | Scope | Training |
|---|---|---|
| CQI-9 | Heat treat system assessment — furnace classes, pyrometry and process tables | CQI-9 Training |
| CQI-11 | Plating system assessment — electrolytic and chemical plating processes | CQI-11 Training |
| CQI-12 | Coating system assessment — pretreatment, powder coating, liquid paint and curing | CQI-12 Training |
| CQI-15 | Welding system assessment — managing welded manufacturing processes | CQI-15 Training |
| CQI-17 | Soldering / electronic assembly manufacturing (EAM) system assessment | CQI-17 Training |
| CQI-23 | Molding system assessment — injection and related plastic molding processes | CQI-23 Training |
| CQI-27 | Casting system assessment — foundry processes | CQI-27 Training |
| CQI-29 | Brazing system assessment | CQI-29 Training |
| CQI-30 | Rubber processing system assessment — compounding, molding and curing | CQI-30 Training |
| CQI-35 | Wire harness quality guidelines — crimping, pull testing and assembly controls | CQI-35 Training |
The common logic of these assessments is the same: management responsibility, equipment and facility requirements, process-specific technical tables, measurement and record requirements. A participant who learns one adapts to the others faster — which makes a package training economical for facilities with more than one process.
Method and System Guides
CQI publications that focus not on a specific production process but on quality management practices:
| Document | Scope | Training |
|---|---|---|
| CQI-8 | Layered process audit (LPA) — a short-cycle, frequently repeated shop-floor audit programme | CQI-8 Training |
| CQI-14 | Automotive warranty management — warranty data analysis and no-trouble-found (NTF) | CQI-14 Training |
| CQI-18 | Effective error proofing (poka-yoke) — designing and managing error-proofing mechanisms | CQI-18 Training |
| CQI-19 | Sub-tier supplier management — selecting, monitoring and developing Tier-2+ suppliers | CQI-19 Training |
| CQI-20 | Effective problem solving — root cause analysis and permanent corrective action | CQI-20 Training |
| CQI-22 | Cost of poor quality (COPQ) — measuring and reducing quality costs | CQI-22 Training |
| CQI-24 | DRBFM — design review based on failure modes | CQI-24 Training |
| CQI-28 | Traceability guideline — building and verifying a product traceability system | CQI-28 Training |
| CQI-32 | Bar steel system questionnaire — steelmaking (EAF, BOF, EOF), continuous/ingot casting and immersion ultrasonic testing | CQI-32 Training |
| CQI-33 | 3D model technical data package (TDP) exchange — standardized sharing of design data | CQI-33 Training |
| CQI-34 | Software Assurance Approval Process (SwAAP) — software approval modelled after PPAP, plus change management | CQI-34 Training |
| CQI-37 | Safety critical bulk material / catalog item management — responsibilities and change communication | CQI-37 Training |
| CQI-38 | AI-based vision inspection — risk-based validation and control of model/data/environment changes | CQI-38 Training |
Which one for your process?
For a quick shortlist:
If you work with metal: CQI-9 for heat treatment. CQI-11 for plating. CQI-12 for painting. CQI-15 for welding. CQI-27 for casting. CQI-29 for brazing.
If you process plastic or rubber: CQI-23 for plastic molding, CQI-30 for rubber.
If you manufacture electronics: CQI-17 for soldering, CQI-35 for wire harnesses.
If you purchase these processes: You need to know the manual for whichever process your supplier runs. In addition, CQI-19 on sub-tier supplier management is directly your topic.
If you are closing a systemic gap: CQI-8 for setting up shop-floor audits, CQI-20 for problem-solving competence, CQI-18 for error proofing, CQI-28 for traceability.
If you run more than one process, a separate assessment is required for each — having done CQI-11 does not substitute for CQI-9.
Package and Combined Programmes
Frequently requested combinations for multi-process facilities:
- Plating + heat treatment: CQI-11 and CQI-9. Common at facilities applying heat treatment before/after plating.
- Plating + paint: CQI-11 and CQI-12. Facilities running both types of surface treatment line.
- Welding + brazing: CQI-15 and CQI-29.
- Auditor package: Rounding out internal audit competence with CQI-8 (LPA) and CQI-20 (problem solving).
- Supplier quality package: CQI-19 together with the special process manual that applies at your supplier.
Because the common sections are covered once in package programmes, the total duration and cost are lower than attending separately.
Participation Options
Participation type: Open enrolment or in-house.
Training method: In person (at your organization or in our training room), live online, on-demand recording.
Duration: 1–2 days depending on the manual and scope. If shop-floor work will be done on your own line, 2 days are recommended.
Dates: Set according to demand.
Obtaining the manuals: CQI manuals and assessment workbooks are copyright-protected publications and are not provided as part of the training. Participants need access to the current edition; they are obtained through AIAG.
Beyond Training: Implementation Support
You can make use of our consulting services in every area where support is needed.
- Conducting and reporting the self-assessment together
- Gap analysis of your existing record and procedure structure
- Preparing the corrective action plan
- Independent CQI audits at your suppliers
- Preparation work before the customer audit
Frequently Asked Questions About CQI Trainings
Can I obtain a CQI certificate? No. CQI manuals are not certification standards but self-assessment and audit guides. They come into play through customer-specific requirements under IATF 16949. At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate of attendance.
Which CQI applies to us? It depends on the processes you run and your customer’s specific requirements. We recommend checking your contracts and CSR documents; if you are unsure, we can evaluate it together in a short call.
How often must the CQI assessment be carried out? For the special process assessments, the self-assessment is expected to be conducted at least once a year. Your customer requirements may prescribe a more frequent interval.
What does special process mean? A process whose result cannot be fully verified by measurement and inspection right after it is completed. Verification often requires destructive testing; quality assurance therefore rests on process control rather than product measurement.
We don’t run the process ourselves, we purchase it. Is it still necessary? Yes, most likely. If you procure these processes externally, the responsibility for verifying your supplier’s conformity rests with you. The team conducting your supplier audits needs to know the relevant manual.
Can we take several CQI trainings together? Yes. Because the general structure of the assessments is common, the shared sections are covered once in combined programmes; the total duration and cost are lower than attending separately.
Are there prerequisites for CQI training? No. General knowledge of the relevant process makes participation easier but is not mandatory.
Do you provide the manual? No. CQI manuals are copyright-protected and must be obtained through AIAG or its authorized bodies. Participants need access to the current edition.