CQI-15 is one of the automotive industry quality standards issued by AIAG (American Automotive Industry Action Group). Its full name is:
CQI-15: Special Process – Welding System Assessment (WSA)
It is a standardized assessment guide for all automotive-related "welding processes (such as resistance welding, arc welding, laser welding, brazing, etc.)" to ensure welding quality, process consistency and product reliability.
Current version
Version number: 2nd edition
Release date: 2010 (latest version is 2010)
Scope of application: Organizations that perform or manage welding processes for automotive parts, including in-house or outsourced welding units
Purpose of CQI-15
Identify risks and variations in the welding process
Ensure the consistency and mechanical properties (such as strength and fatigue life) of welds
Prevent functional failures caused by welding defects (cracks, cold welds, spatter, pores, etc.)
Meet OEM quality audit requirements for special processes (such as GM, Ford, Stellantis)
Structure of CQI-15
The evaluation form of CQI-15 contains the following main parts:
Part Content
1 Management Responsibility
2 Common Process Requirements
3 Welding Process Tables
4 Appendixes and supporting documents
Detailed explanation of the main contents
1. Management responsibilities
Have welding process managers and quality managers been assigned?
Have training and certification mechanisms (such as welder qualification certificates) been established?
Have welding control plans, FMEAs, and standard operating instructions been established?
Have maintenance, calibration, and preventive maintenance plans for welding process equipment?
Have internal self-assessments been performed regularly (recommended once every 12 months)?
2. General process control requirements
Control items Requirement examples
Raw material control All welding materials (welding wire, shielding gas, electrode caps, etc.) must comply with specifications and be traceable
Equipment management Welding machine (such as spot welding machine) parameters should be set, locked, and prevent accidental changes
Welding parameter control Including current, voltage, time, pressure, etc., should be monitored and recorded in real time
Welding fixtures Fixtures should be prevented from mis-installation, accurately positioned, and regularly maintained
Rework and repair There is a clear rework process, and reworked parts must be fully inspected and recorded
Traceability Each weld can be traced back to workers, equipment, shifts, and batches
3. Sub-process table (Welding Process Tables
CQI-15 sets detailed control requirements for different welding methods, including but not limited to:
Table No. Welding Type Example Control Points
Table A Spot Welding Electrode force, current, welding time, weld spot size
Table B Seam Welding Roller pressure, weld continuity, spacing consistency
Table C Arc Welding (MIG/TIG) Voltage, current, shielding gas flow, arc initiation quality
Table D Laser Welding Laser power, scanning speed, focal length, weld formation
Table E Brazing Brazing heating temperature, welding atmosphere, gap control
Each sub-process requires control:
Comparison between equipment set values and actual values
Weld spot/weld inspection (size, strength, appearance)
Flaw detection or failure test (such as peel test, destructive test)
Process validation documents (such as WPS, PQR)
4. Attachments and Supporting Documents
Term Explanation (such as WPS: Welding Procedure Specification)
Solder spot defect diagram (burn-through, lack of fusion, cold solder joint, spatter, etc.)
Recommended equipment maintenance record template
Calibration and verification frequency recommendation
✅ CQI-15 scoring mechanism
Same as other CQI standards, each item is scored according to 4 levels:
Level Description
S (Satisfactory) Satisfactory, meets the requirements
M (Minor) Minor deviation, little impact on the final quality
MA (Major) Serious deviation, may affect product quality
U (Unsatisfactory) Unqualified, missing process or incomplete data
Example of routine welding quality inspection
Inspection items Method Frequency recommendation
Solder spot size Caliper/weld spot template Random inspection per shift/batch
Pull-off test Tensile testing machine First piece per day or per model
Weld appearance Visual inspection Full inspection
Weld strength Peel test, shear test Periodic random inspection
Flaw detection Ultrasonic, X-ray Safety parts recommendation
CQI-15 Applicable enterprise scope
Suppliers of automotive parts involving any form of welding:
Metal structural welding (frame, bracket, control arm)
Battery pack welding (such as laser welding)
Exhaust system, seat frame welding, etc.
CQI-15 is required for both internal production and outsourced welding processes
Summary
Project Content
Standard Name CQI-15 Welding System Assessment
Current Version 2nd Edition (2010)
Scope of application All automotive-related welding processes
Core Content Management Responsibilities + Process Control + Sub-Process Control
Implementation Frequency It is recommended to conduct self-assessment every 12 months
Common Inspections Welding point strength, size, appearance, defect rate, flaw detection, etc.
