According to the AIAG CQI-15 Welding System Assessment guide (released May 18, 2026), the audit evaluates whether your welding management system is actually functional. It is not a weld inspection checklist. The assessment covers five categories:
1. Management responsibility and quality planning.
2. Facility and equipment controls.
3. Personnel training and qualification.
4. Product and process controls (WPS, PQR, WPQ).
5. Continuous improvement and corrective action.
Category 4 is where most suppliers lose points. Assessors go beyond checking that WPS documents exist. They pull random weld records and cross-check them against actual production parameters. If your WPS says 20 kJ/mm heat input but the production log shows 25, that is an automatic nonconformance.
The second most common gap is weld traceability. CQI-15 expects a clear link from raw material heat number to the finished weld joint, including consumable lot control and post-weld NDT results.
The guide also clarifies Critical Elements scoring. A single Critical nonconformance means the facility must address it before the assessment can proceed. These include unqualified welders, unqualified WPS, lack of weld traceability, and inadequate NDT procedures.
For companies already running NADCAP or ISO 3834, CQI-15 alignment is a natural next step. The documentation structure overlaps significantly.
Source: Therness, AIAG CQI-15 Welding System Assessment Complete Guide (May 18, 2026)