The automotive industry is one of the main manufacturing sector industries.
Special processes such as induction hardening, surface hardening in the form of carburizing or nitriding as well as welding processes are widely used in it. To manage them properly AIAG organization had created special manual – CQI-9 which help organization in defining gaps and actions.
Continuous improvement and automation of thermal processes, development of heat treatment machines, as well as cost minimization and optimization of heat treatment processes, has found its application in the production of steering system components, gears, brake discs, driveshafts, pistons and valves.
The competitiveness of products and semi-finished products requires from suppliers of the automotive industry to meet the customer’s requirements and the needs declared by the organization in terms of purchase, delivery time, as well as quality requirements.
Diagram 1. The application of the CQI-9 standard is required not only by customers (OEM) but also by suppliers.
The CQI-9 standard is an appendix to the requirements of IATF 16949 in section 4.3.2. “Customer specific requirements” and applies to all automotive suppliers. As we can see from above diagram it’s used by Stellantis xFCA, FORD and GM.
CQI-9 standard – why do we use it?
Conducting a heat treatment system assessment aims to provide a structured and universal approach to managing thermal processes, developing a continuous improvement system, as well as preventing rejects and reducing the scrap cost throughout the supply chain. A key aspect from an OEM perspective is the emphasis on reducing recall campaigns, returns and product warranty claims.
The CQI-9 standard is a kind of guide aimed at ensuring proper supervision, management and evaluation of thermal processes through the use of best practices, solutions and improvements. Through risk analysis, it allows to identify potential problems and secure the process at the stage of development, industrialization and serial production using the FMEA analysis, which is part of APQP.
As a result of continuous supervision, improvement and development, thermal processes are managed through the practical use of basic quality tools such as statistical process control, process feasibility and capability analysis, as well as knowledge of norms and standards (ISO, DIN, ASTM) in supervising and calibration of control and measurement tools such as laboratory and machine equipment.
From the point of view of overseeing the IATF requirements for section 9.2.2.3 “Audits of the manufacturing process”, it should also be remembered that it must be included in the annual schedule of process audits. This is due to the time period defined in the reference manual.
It requires companies to use an annual assessment. Another issue appropriate permissions are required for an internal lead auditor who will perform the audit.
