What is CAQ System?

CAQ (computer aided quality) is a computer-aided definition of the quality policy and its objectives in the company and a component of quality management. It accompanies the entire production process in all operating and service areas. CAQ systems analyze, document and archive quality-relevant data on production processes. CAQ comprises computer-aided planning and implementation measures for quality assurance.

Capturing, analyzing and archiving quality-related data is very important for companies to minimize risks according to the Product Liability Act. For this purpose, the CAQ system uses statistical methods to evaluate data from measurement, assignment and visual inspection. The CAQ system also displays the process capability of the production process. In other words, what is the reproducibility and stability of the production process. The combination of such quality-related data and the processing of complaints in complaints processing can significantly reduce costs.

There are different disciplines of CAQ:

• Measures management (traceability of measures implementation)
• Incoming goods inspection and supplier evaluation (among others regulated in IATF 16949)
• Outgoing Goods Inspection
• Pre-production testing (machine capability study (MFU), measurement system analysis (MSA))
• Inspection during production, (mostly in the form of statistical process control)
• Impact analysis (FMEA)
• Complaint management
• Document Management
• Testing equipment management (proof of testing equipment capability, calibration and usage history)
• Quality Planning (APQP)
• Initial sample inspection (proof of potential ability to produce the required quality)
• Auditing