AS9100

What does AS9100 stand for?

AS9100 is a quality management standard created by the Aerospace Standards Association. Many industries have adopted and mandated this standard, including aviation and aerospace manufacturing. AS9100 is broken down into ten sections:

• Management responsibility.
• Production processes.
• Product realization process.
• Design control process.
• Reliability engineering process.
• Inspection and testing process.
• Non-conformance processing procedure (NPP).
• Corrective action to prevent recurrence of nonconformity (CAPR) procedure (CAPA).
• Customer notification requirements for processing deviations from specifications/requirements (DEV).
• Supplier notification requirements for processing variations from specifications/requirements (SND) and other requirements.

Why is AS9100 Important?

AS9100 is a quality management system standard. It defines the requirements for a company to have an effective Quality Management System, which includes a documented procedure for identifying and solving problems that might cause nonconforming products or services. AS9100 was developed by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) in 1997, revised in 2006, and updated again in 2015 to be aligned with ISO 9001:2015.

The following are some of the key benefits of implementing AS9100: 

• Improved customer satisfaction.
• Lower production costs.
• Reduced product warranty claims.
• Improved employee morale.
• Reduced manufacturing scrap and rework.

What is an AS9100 Quality Management System?

A quality management system, also called the QMS, is a set of documented procedures designed to help create and maintain high-quality standards within the company. These standards aim to provide customers with confidence in your products or services.
The following are 13 steps required to implement an AS9100 Quality Management System:

• Decision Making and Commitment.
• Implementation Team & Management Representative.
• Employee Awareness Training.
• Perform a Gap Assessment.
• Implementation Planning.
• Documentation Development.
• Review and Release Documents.
• Implementation and Employee Training.
• Quality System Registrar Selection.
• Internal Auditor Training & Commence Internal Audits.
• Management Review.
• Stage 1 Registration Audit.
• Corrective Actions.

ISO 9001 vs. AS9100: What’s the Difference

ISO 9001 and AS9100 are both quality management systems organizations can implement to improve their organization. However, they have a few key differences. ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for quality management, whereas AS9100 is a specification from the United States Department of Defense. The scope of the two standards differs, with ISO 9001 focusing more on customer satisfaction and service aspects while AS9100 focuses mainly on reliability, maintainability, and safety issues. The time frame for implementation also varies, with ISO 9001 being valid indefinitely versus one year for AS9100 once certified by a third-party audit company.

ISO 9001 and AS9100 are two of the world’s most popular quality management standards. These standards help organizations establish a systematic approach to identifying, analyzing, and eliminating defects in their products or services that could negatively impact customer satisfaction.

One key difference between these two standards is their scope of application. While ISO 9001 applies to all organizations, AS9100 focuses on companies manufacturing products according to customer specifications or producing goods for specific markets such as aerospace or nuclear.

Certification

AS9100 Auditing Explained

AS9100 auditing is a process to verify that an organization is complying with the requirements of AS9100 for quality management systems. An audit can also be described as verification and validation activities conducted by a qualified auditor against documented evidence to assess conformance with specified requirements.

Audits are conducted at designated intervals to verify compliance with specific standards or regulations. They have been traditionally used by organizations such as ISO 9000, ASME Y14.1 Quality Management Systems Requirements for Pressure Equipment and Inspection Agencies, and many others since they provide a way of determining whether a company has maintained its commitment to quality over time.

The benefits of this type of audit include:

• Improvement in the management of the organization’s quality system.
• Strengthening and increasing the effectiveness of a company’s commitment to compliance with standards, regulations, or laws which can vouch for product safety and protect consumers’ health and welfare.
• Enhancing customer confidence in products produced by audited organizations through an independent third-party verification process.

What is AS9100 Certification

The AS9100D standards are a set of quality assurance requirements that the aerospace industry must comply with. They include guidelines on identifying and controlling hazards related to product design, development, production, and service delivery. AS9100 certification is an audit process for companies that meet these requirements and provide documentation proving it.

Companies who want to sell their products or services in the aerospace industry must be certified as meeting these standards for safety purposes. The certification is awarded by an accredited third-party organization and is typically valid for three years.

To maintain certification, companies must undergo regular audits to ensure they comply with the AS91OD standards. If changes are made to company policies or procedures or new hazards are identified, these must be addressed before the next audit.

Why AS9100 Certification is Important to Your Organization

The AS9100 certification is an aerospace standard that ensures a company’s products and services adhere to the highest quality standards. The main goal of AS9100 is to minimize risk by enforcing strict guidelines for all aspects of production, from design and engineering through manufacturing, assembly, test, installation, and service.

Achieving AS9100 certification is a rigorous process that requires organizations to verify their ability to consistently manufacture products according to the applicable quality standards. It’s essential for many reasons, including increased customer satisfaction, reduced cost of complying with product safety regulations, and improved manufacturing processes.

We, Will, give you three reasons why your company should be certified under this standard.

• To help ensure you are providing products that meet customer expectations.
• Increase efficiency within the company.
• Reduce risk.

Benefits of AS9100 Certification

Some of the benefits that you will see as a result.

• Benefit #1: Increased Productivity – Your employees can work more effectively with clear objectives and reduce confusion about their work fitting into what needs to get done.
• Benefit #2: Reduced Cost of Ownership – There are fewer errors due to miscommunication or misunderstanding between departments, which reduces downtime and service interruptions.
• Benefit #3: Improved Customer Satisfaction – Customers appreciate consistency in product delivery, responsiveness when they have questions, and proactive communication when issues arise.
• Benefit #4: Reduced Turnover – When employees are given opportunities to grow in their roles, they feel more satisfied and better connected with the company’s goals, leading to lower turnover rates.