Table of Contents
What is CQI9 ?
CQI-9, formally known as “CQI-9 Special Process: Heat Treat System Assessment (HTSA),” is a standard developed by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). It is designed to ensure the consistency and reliability of heat treatment processes used in the manufacturing of automotive components.
The HTSA is applicable to sites where customer-specified parts for production or service are processed throughout the automotive supply chain.
There are Nine Process Tables that are specific to the Heat Treat Processes as shown below:
Process Table A – Ferrous
- Carburizing
- Carbonitriding
- Carbon Restoration or Correction
- Neutral Hardening (Quench and Temper)
- Martempering
- Tempering
- Precipitation Hardening – Aging
Process Table B – Ferrous
- Nitriding (Gas)
- Ferritic-Nitrocarburizing (Gas or Salt)
Process Table C – Aluminum
- Aluminum Heat Treating
Process Table D – Ferrous
- Induction Heat Treating
Process Table E – Annealing, Normalizing, and Stress-Relieving
- Conformance to CQI-9 is required for organizations that perform annealing, normalizing, or stress-relieving to achieve the desired final characteristics of the part.
Process Table F – Low Pressure Processing (Carburizing/Carbonitriding/Neutral Hardening)
Process Table G – Sinter Hardening
Process Table H – Ion Nitriding
Process Table I – Hot Stamping
PROCESS TABLE A – Carburizing / Carbonitriding / Carbon Restoration / Hardening / Austempering / Martempering / Tempering / Precipitation Hardening – Aging All requirements given below are subordinate to customer specific requirements.
The Customer may have additional requirements, e.g. inspection testing, greater frequencies. When performing the job audit, the auditor shall verify heat treater is conforming to the Customer’s requirements.
Continuous furnace frequencies for item numbers A4.2, A4.3, and A4.4 are per lot (work order) or as specified, whichever is more frequent.
OK – Complies to requirement
NOK – Does not comply to requirement
NA – Requirement not applicable
CQI9 Audit Checklist | CQI9 4th Edition Latest
PROCESS TABLE B – Nitriding (Gas) and Ferritic-Nitrocarburizing (Gas or Salt)
“All requirements given below are subordinate to customer specific requirements.
The Customer may have additional requirements, e.g. inspection testing, greater frequencies. When performing the job audit, the auditor shall verify heat treater is conforming to the Customer’s requirements.
Continuous furnace frequencies for item numbers B4.2, B4.3, B4.4, and B4.5 are per lot (work order) or as specified, whichever is more frequent.
OK – Complies to requirement
NOK – Does not comply to requirement
NA – Requirement not applicable”