Both are loosely referred to as “coating” on the shop floor, and this causes constant confusion in surface treatment plants. The short answer: they cover different processes, and neither replaces the other.
The basic distinction
CQI-11 — Plating System Assessment Covers electroplating and electrolytic processes:
- Zinc and zinc alloy electrolytic plating
- Decorative plating on metal or plastic substrates
- Hard chrome plating
- Electroless nickel
- Electropolishing
CQI-12 — Coating System Assessment Covers paint and surface coating processes:
- Conversion coatings
- Anodizing
- Powder coating
- Spray coatings
- Dip/spin coatings
- Common steps: aqueous and mechanical pretreatment, curing
Three common mistakes
“We only paint, CQI-12 is enough for us.” That may be true. But if you have a zinc plating or decorative plating step before painting, CQI-11 applies as well.
“We anodize, that’s an electrolytic process, it falls under CQI-11.” It does not. Anodizing is within the scope of CQI-12. Being an electrochemical process does not change the classification.
“Conversion coating is the pretreatment for paint, it isn’t assessed separately.” It is. Conversion coating is directly within the scope of CQI-12 and has its own requirements.
Plants that run both
A significant share of surface treatment plants operate both an electroplating line and a paint line. In that case you need to carry out two separate self-assessments. Having completed CQI-11 does not substitute for CQI-12.
The good news: the overall structure of the two assessments is shared. The management responsibility, facility and equipment requirements, records system and personnel competence sections are built on similar logic. The differentiation lies in the process-specific technical tables.
That is why a team that has learned one assessment adapts quickly to the other, and combined training programmes are markedly more economical than attending separately.
If you purchase the process
If you do not run these processes yourself but source them externally, the responsibility does not disappear. The obligation to verify your supplier’s conformity rests with the buyer.
In other words, if you have plating or painting done for you, the team that will audit your supplier needs to know the relevant manual.
Current editions
Both manuals are in their 3rd edition. Both replaced the 2nd editions that had been in use since February 2012.
The common purpose of both revisions was to update the content, improve the clarity of the document and bring the process approach and risk management concepts of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 into the assessment.
Notable shared updates:
- Every requirement now comes with a description including points to consider
- Examples of acceptable objective evidence are provided
- A customized assessment document can be prepared with the optional Form Builder
- In CQI-12, the test equipment requirements associated with each process are listed together at the end of the relevant process table
The last point is particularly useful: calibration and measurement equipment readiness is one of the most frequent sticking points in customer audits.
Frequency and obligation
Both assessments must be carried out as a self-assessment at least once a year.
They are not independent certification standards; they come into play through customer-specific requirements (CSRs) under IATF 16949. In other words, your obligation arises from your contract. Confirm which manual applies to you from your customer’s CSR document.
Decision table
| Your process | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Zinc / zinc alloy plating | CQI-11 |
| Decorative plating | CQI-11 |
| Hard chrome | CQI-11 |
| Electroless nickel | CQI-11 |
| Electropolishing | CQI-11 |
| Conversion coating | CQI-12 |
| Anodizing | CQI-12 |
| Powder coating | CQI-12 |
| Spray painting | CQI-12 |
| Dip / spin coating | CQI-12 |
Next step
You can find programme details on our CQI-11 training and CQI-12 training pages. If you operate both lines, simply mention that you would like a combined programme.
