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Automotive Core Tools and CQI Guidelines Reference: Which Standard Covers What

Automotive quality work is spread across many documents from AIAG, VDA and ISO, and suppliers constantly need to know which one answers a given audit question. This lookup lists the core tools, the CQI guidelines and the common VDA references with a one-line plain use for each.

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Reference	Title	Publisher	Group	Typical use in a supplier plant
APQP	Advanced Product Quality Planning and Control Plan	AIAG	Core tool	Plans a new product launch through phases and defines the control plan structure.
PPAP	Production Part Approval Process	AIAG	Core tool	Evidence package submitted to the customer to release a part for production.
FMEA	Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (AIAG and VDA handbook)	AIAG and VDA	Core tool	Design and process risk analysis with Action Priority rather than RPN alone.
MSA	Measurement Systems Analysis	AIAG	Core tool	Gage R&R, bias, linearity and stability studies on measuring equipment.
SPC	Statistical Process Control	AIAG	Core tool	Control charts and capability indices for key characteristics.
CQI-8	Layered Process Audits Guideline	AIAG	CQI	Tiered, short, frequent process audits by supervisors and management.
CQI-9	Special Process: Heat Treat System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Self-assessment and audit of heat treat furnaces, pyrometry and process control.
CQI-11	Special Process: Plating System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers electroplating and related plating lines, bath control and testing.
CQI-12	Special Process: Coating System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers paint and coating processes such as spray, powder and e-coat.
CQI-14	Automotive Warranty Management Guideline	AIAG	CQI	Structures warranty analysis, field data flow and learning back into design.
CQI-15	Special Process: Welding System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers resistance, arc and other welding processes and their controls.
CQI-17	Special Process: Soldering System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers soldering of electronic assemblies, including reflow and wave.
CQI-19	Sub-tier Supplier Management Process Guideline	AIAG	CQI	How a supplier selects, monitors and develops its own sub-tier suppliers.
CQI-23	Special Process: Molding System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers plastic and rubber molding process controls.
CQI-24	Design Review Based on Failure Mode (DRBFM)	AIAG	CQI	Focused design review of changes and their failure modes.
CQI-27	Special Process: Casting System Assessment	AIAG	CQI special process	Covers casting processes such as die casting and foundry operations.
VDA 6.3	Process Audit	VDA QMC	VDA	Process audit method used by German OEMs for suppliers and for internal audits.
VDA 6.5	Product Audit	VDA QMC	VDA	Audit of the finished product against specification and customer requirements.
VDA 2	Production Process and Product Approval (PPA)	VDA QMC	VDA	German OEM counterpart to PPAP for part and process approval.
VDA 19	Technical Cleanliness (inspection of technical cleanliness)	VDA QMC	VDA	Particle cleanliness of components such as fuel, brake and e-drive parts.
IMDS	International Material Data System	Automotive industry (hosted by Hamburg-based provider)	Reporting	Material declaration of parts to OEMs for substance and recycling compliance.
ISO 26262	Road vehicles, Functional safety	ISO	Standard	Functional safety lifecycle for electrical and electronic systems with ASIL levels.

Reference list only. Edition numbers change, so always confirm the current edition and your customer's specific requirements before an audit or submission.

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How to use this list

Type a process name or number into the search box, for example welding, CQI-9 or audit, and the table narrows to matching rows. The Group column separates the five core tools from special process assessments, general CQI guidelines and VDA documents. Export the filtered rows to Excel to build the standards register that auditors ask for during an IATF 16949 certification or customer audit. Keep the register next to your document control list so the edition and review date sit beside each reference.

Core tools versus CQI guidelines

The five core tools are APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA and SPC. IATF 16949 requires suppliers to use them, and customers reference them in their customer specific requirements. The CQI guidelines are different: they are assessments and good-practice guides published by AIAG, and many OEMs mandate specific ones for the relevant process. A plant with a furnace is typically expected to complete the heat treat assessment, a plating line the plating assessment, and so on.

Special process assessments are process specific
Layered process audits and warranty guides are general management tools
Check each customer's requirements for which assessments they accept

VDA and AIAG side by side

German OEMs often use VDA 6.3 for process audits and VDA 2 for approval, while North American customers use PPAP and CQI assessments. Many suppliers serve both and must keep two vocabularies. The AIAG and VDA FMEA handbook is shared by both organisations, which helps. When you serve both, map your internal audit programme so one process audit covers the VDA 6.3 questions and the CQI items together.

Common mistakes

The most common error is treating a CQI assessment as a one-time exercise. Assessments are meant to be repeated, normally at least yearly, with actions tracked. Another is citing the wrong edition in a procedure. A third is assuming a standard applies because it is popular rather than because the customer requires it. Read your customer specific requirements first, then use this table to find the matching guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CQI-9 required by IATF 16949?

IATF 16949 itself does not name CQI-9. Many OEM customer specific requirements do require suppliers with heat treat processes to complete the CQI-9 assessment, so the requirement usually arrives through the customer, not the standard.

What is the difference between PPAP and VDA 2?

Both release a part and process for series production. PPAP is the AIAG method used by most North American and many global OEMs. VDA 2 is the German equivalent and uses its own submission levels and documents. Follow whichever the customer specifies.

Are the core tools the same as the CQI guidelines?

No. The core tools are APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA and SPC. The CQI series is a separate set of AIAG guidelines and process assessments, covering things like welding, plating and layered process audits.

Does this list replace the standards?

No. It is a pointer to what each document covers. The official documents are copyrighted and must be purchased from AIAG, VDA QMC or ISO. Use this list to find the right one, then use the actual document.

If your standards register, audit findings and customer requirements sit in different systems, Netray can help connect them to your ERP and quality data with a private, on-prem assistant.

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