CQI-9 Heat Treat System Assessment

Significance and Application of CQI-9 Heat Treatment System Assessment

The North American automotive association AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) is publisher of the CQI standards (Continuous Quality Improvement). CQI-9 Heat Treatment System Assessment is a self-assessment of the heat treatment system and must be carried out at least once a year.
This standard is an appendix to ISO TS 16949 (IATF 16949) under „customer-specific requirements“ and is valid for all automotive suppliers globally that have entered into a contractual agreement regarding purchasing, supply and quality throughout the supply chain.
As a long standing member of the AIAG, TopQM-Systems already specialized early on in the introduction, development and qualification of employees, as well as auditor training according to the rules of the AIAG for CQI-9 heat treatment processes in the European and global automotive supplier markets.
The German translation of CQI-9, 3rd Edition was finally made available as an e-document in May 2012 and was released as a printed version and CD-ROM on July 25, 2012. More information available here>>>
The AIAG has since published a correction (dated Feb. 2014) of the existing AIAG CQI-9 3rd Edition Standard. You can find it as download in the form of an errata sheet here>>>.

Currently the AIAG has published a correction of the existing AIAG CQI-9 3rd. Edition Standards.

Here you can download the German version of the Errata Sheet AIAG CQI-9 3rd. Edition

Structure, Content and Elements of the CQI-9 Questionnaire

Cover Sheet

Basic data of the heat treatment organization
Audited areas according to the respective CQI-9 process table
Contact data (auditor, company, participants)
Results of the CQI audit

Audit Elements Paragraphs 1-3

Paragraph 1: Management responsibility and quality planning
Paragraph 2: Responsibility for material flow and material handling
Paragraph 3: Heat treatment facility and equipment
Paragraph 3.15: Additional questions concerning induction heat treatment

Job Audit Paragraph 4

Header and basic data concerning the audited product
Questions concerning the process flow
Customer-specific requirements concerning the product
Operator and quality responsibility
Packaging requirements
Transport requirements

Process Tables of the CQI-9 Heat Treat System Assessment

Process Table A

Carburizing
Carbonitriding
Carbon restoration
Neutral hardening
Austempering
Martempering
Tempering
Precipitation hardening / aging

Process Table B

Nitriding (Gas)
Ferritic-Nitrocarburizing (Gas or Salt)

Process Table C

Aluminium Heat Treatment

Process Table D

Induction Heat Treatment

Process Table E

Annealing
Normalizing
Stress Relieving

Process Table F

Low Pressure Carburizing

Process Table G

Sinter Hardening

Process Table H

Ion Nitriding

Process Table I

Dry Contact Press Hardening

TopQM-Systems Global CQI-9 Service

We conduct CQI process audits in your company and at your locations
We conduct CQI process audits at your external heat treatment suppliers
Training as „CQI-9 auditor“ according to the rules of AIAG auditor qualification, incl. seminar documentation, examination and issuing of certificates
As an official training partner of AIAG, we offer licensed CQI-training modules (Understanding AIAG CQI Self Assessment) and CQI basic knowledge.

Certification support to ISO TS 16949 (IATF 16949)

CQI-FMEA Training (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis)

TopQM-Systems already conducts AIAG CQI process audits for well-known automotive companies as well as in-house training througout the supply chain. Make use of our special know-how and contact us for your consultation interview or for an individual, detailed service offer at no charge and without obligation.

Examples of TopQM-Systems projects and references for CQI audits and CQI auditor training (extract):