> CQI Guidelines > CQI-32
> CQI Guidelines > CQI-32
The AIAG CQI-32 is a system-level assessment guide/questionnaire for bar steel supply chains in the automotive industry. It provides a consistent framework for Supplier Self-Assessments and 2nd-Party Assessments—supporting risk reduction, comparability, and standardised evidence.
Published in January 2026, the AIAG CQI-32 “Bar Steel System Questionnaire” is a CQI guideline / structured questionnaire for system-level supplier assessment of bar steel within the automotive supply chain. It enables consistent assessments (Supplier Self-Assessment and 2nd-Party Assessment) and focuses on evaluation, defect detection, and process control to harmonise supplier assessments and reduce risk.
CQI-32 addresses key areas of bar steel production and testing, including Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and energy-optimising furnaces, as well as casting processes (continuous casting / ingot casting) and test methods such as immersion ultrasonic testing (immersion UT).
The objective is to standardise customer requirements and evidence, reduce duplicated effort and paperwork (fewer customer-specific questionnaires), and support consistent process monitoring based on best practices (defect prevention and effective response). CQI-32 is designed as a guideline for evaluating the management system of bar steel suppliers.
CQI-32 is not a Special Process standard like CQI-9 (Heat Treat), CQI-11 (Plating) or CQI-15 (Welding). CQI-32 is not a process-technical standard; instead, it is a structured system/process questionnaire designed to harmonise customer requirements and enable Supplier Self-Assessments and 2nd-Party Assessments.
In short: a “Guideline / questionnaire with a CQI label.”
Typical Special Process CQIs…
CQI-32, by contrast…
CQI-32 is intended for anyone who evaluates or supplies bar steel within the automotive supply chain, for example:
CQI-32 helps replace multiple customer-specific questionnaires with a standardised, comparable assessment—reducing duplicated effort, simplifying supplier qualification, and making risks visible early. This increases transparency and supports more robust decisions in sourcing, approval, and escalation.
We are an official AIAG distribution partner in Europe – unique in Germany.
In addition to the AIAG CQI guidelines, we offer practical automotive training courses on the safe application of methods, standards and guidelines in the automotive industry.
TopQM-Systems is an official partner for distribution and training in Europe!
TopQM-Systems audits your company and your subcontractors according to the above AIAG standards. Our auditing concept is based on an audit checklist translated by TopQM-Systems from the original AIAG-CQI guideline and offers you practical "on-the-job training" for your employees during the audit. On request, you can also receive the audit report in the respective national language.
TopQM-Systems trains internal CQI auditors. Our CQI training courses are based on AZWV seminar guidelines and the "Understanding AIAG CQI Self Assessment" training module is AIAG licensed. For many years, TopQM-System has been a recognized AIAG seminar provider on the global automotive market.
