Self-assessment is an organization evaluating its own system or process against a defined guideline or checklist.
Its most common use in the automotive supply chain is CQI special process assessments. It is conducted against the relevant CQI manual for processes such as heat treatment, plating, painting and welding.
Frequency
In CQI special process assessments, the self-assessment is expected to be carried out at least once a year. Your customer-specific requirements may prescribe a more frequent interval.
Who conducts it?
You must be able to demonstrate the competence of the person conducting the assessment. A training record is the most common evidence of this competence.
For impartiality, it is preferable that the assessment is not carried out by the person directly responsible for that process.
Record obligation
Self-assessment results, the nonconformities identified and corrective action follow-up must be recorded. These records are requested in customer audits.
A common mistake is to conduct the assessment and not follow up the findings. A self-assessment record full of unclosed findings leaves a worse impression than not having done one at all.
Self-assessment is not certification
CQI manuals are not independent certification standards; no certificates are issued against them. The obligation arises through customer-specific requirements under IATF 16949.
How the self-assessment is conducted depends on which CQI manual falls within your scope. For an electroplating line, for example, the CQI-11 training is suitable; for paint and surface coating, the CQI-12 training. For other processes such as heat treatment, welding and casting, see the full list of our CQI training topics.