CQI-27 is a quality management assessment standard issued by AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group), focusing on:
CQI-27: Special Process – Casting System Assessment (CSA)
Current version information
Project Content
Standard name CQI-27 Casting System Assessment
Full English name Casting System Assessment
Issuing organization AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group)
Current version 1, published in September 2018
Applicable to all suppliers and manufacturers involved in metal casting processes in the automotive industry
The core purpose of CQI-27
Systematically evaluate the consistency and stability of metal casting processes (iron, steel, aluminum, etc.)
Prevent defects in castings in terms of dimensional accuracy, internal density, surface quality, and organizational performance
Help companies identify process risks, achieve standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement
Meet OEM (such as GM, FORD, Stellantis) quality management requirements for special processes
CQI-27 Structure of CQI-27
CQI-27 is mainly composed of the following four parts:
Part Content
1 Management Responsibility
2 General Casting Process Requirements
3 Process-Specific Tables
4 Appendix (Term Definitions, References, Form Templates)
Detailed Explanation of Main Content
1. Management Responsibility
Does the enterprise have the following basic management capabilities:
Whether a person in charge of casting process and a person in charge of quality are assigned
Whether a casting process document system (operation instructions, flow charts, FMEA, control plans, etc.) is established
Whether quality goals (scrap rate, rework rate, customer return rate, etc.) are established
Whether CQI-27 self-assessment is conducted regularly (recommended once every 12 months)
Whether there is an effective corrective and preventive measures mechanism (such as 8D)
Whether skill certification and training records are conducted for key positions
2. General Casting Process Requirements Process)
Covering the whole process control from material input to finished product delivery, mainly including:
Stage Control point example
Raw material control Raw materials for smelting (scrap steel, iron ingots, alloys) must have material certification, mixing control
Smelting control Smelting temperature, holding time, degassing treatment, whether there is a medium frequency furnace record, etc.
Mold and sand Whether the sand mold/metal mold is regularly maintained, sand strength, moisture, particle size, etc.
Pouring process Control pouring temperature, flow rate, runner design, cold iron layout
Cooling and cleaning Whether the cooling time is sufficient, whether grinding and sand cleaning damage the surface of the casting
Defect control Whether there are records and rectification mechanisms for defects such as pores, slag inclusions, cracks, shrinkage, etc.
Heat treatment Whether the aging, quenching, and tempering processes are carried out according to the process, and whether there are furnace temperature chart records
Inspection and testing Whether the size, metallographic, hardness, airtightness, X-ray, ultrasound and other inspection items are carried out
Traceability Whether each product can be traced back to the furnace number, equipment, personnel, shift and other information
3. Sub-process evaluation table (Process Tables)
CQI-27 divides different casting processes into several "sub-process tables", and each casting process has its own exclusive control points:
Sub-process number Casting process type Control point
Table A Sand casting (Sand Casting) Sand moisture, air permeability, strength, mold release, runner design, etc.
Table B Shell casting (Shell Molding) Hot shell mold control, mold temperature, hot shell resin quality
Table C Permanent Mold Casting (Permanent Mold Casting) Mold temperature control, cooling system, coating coating
Table D Die Casting (Die Casting) Clamping force, injection speed, mold temperature control, mold release agent
Table E Investment Casting (Investment Casting) Wax mold quality, number of coating layers, drying, baking temperature
Table F Centrifugal Casting (Centrifugal Casting) Speed, pouring angle, wall thickness consistency
Table G Lost Foam Casting (Lost Foam Casting) Foam mold quality, negative pressure control, sand filling density
Table H Plaster Mold Casting Slurry quality, curing temperature, drying control
4. Appendix
Term explanation (such as shrinkage, permeability, degassing agent)
Schematic diagram of common casting defects (pores, slag inclusions, cold shut, shrinkage, etc.)
Recommended record template (melting record, mold inspection table, heat treatment parameter record, etc.)
Conventional casting inspection items and methods (such as metallographic, non-destructive, hardness, mechanical properties)
✅ CQI-27 scoring mechanism
Like other CQI series, CQI-27 also uses 4 levels of scoring:
Level Meaning
S (Satisfactory) Satisfactory, fully meets the requirements
M (Minor) Slight deviation, little impact on the final quality
MA (Major) Major deviation, may affect function or consistency
U (Unsatisfactory) Severe defects or completely uncontrolled, need immediate rectification
CQI-27 Applicable enterprises
Applicable to organizations involved in any metal casting process in the automotive industry, including but not limited to:
Manufacturers of cast iron/aluminum parts such as engine blocks, cylinder heads, intake pipes, and brackets
Precision castings (such as turbine blades, precision alloy parts)
High-pressure casting suppliers (such as transmission housings)
Secondary/tertiary casting supply chains that have direct or indirect cooperation with OEMs
And OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with outsourced casting processes
Typical casting defect control items
Defects Detection methods Control measures
Porosity X-ray, sectioning, metallography Degassing treatment, alloy purity, pouring parameters
Shrinkage X-ray, grinding flaw detection Runner design, chiller layout, riser shrinkage compensation
Slag inclusion Metallography, fracture analysis Melting purity, insulation control
Cracks Magnetic powder, ultrasonic Reasonable cooling, stress relief annealing
Dimensional deviation Three-coordinate detection Mold wear control, process optimization
Summary table
Item Content
Standard name CQI-27 Casting system evaluation
Current version 1st edition (2018)
Covered processes Sand mold, die casting, precision casting, metal mold, centrifugal, etc.
Structural module Management responsibility + general requirements + sub-process table + appendix
Implementation frequency It is recommended to complete a self-assessment every 12 months
Common tests X-ray, metallography, hardness, mechanical properties, appearance, etc.
Goals Improve consistency, reduce defects, and improve customer satisfaction
