AS9100 Quality Management System Standard for AEROSPACE
Within the aviation, space, and defense (ASD) industry, maintaining high safety levels is the foremost challenge. Even the smallest flaws in products or services can have fatal consequences. This has led to high expectations for the quality, safety, and reliability of parts, systems, and services, which your company must achieve across the entire ASD supply chain. Each organization in the ASD industry must demonstrate its commitment to quality and reliability.
The AS9100 (AS9100, AS9110 and AS9120) quality management systems are based on ISO 9001 with specific requirements on aviation, space, and defense industries.
Published by the International Aerospace Quality Group, the AS/EN 91XX standards unify various competing quality documentation and requirements to a standardized benchmark.
The standards cover, but are not limited to:
- Configuration Management
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Special Processes
- Control of work performed outside the supplier’s activities
AS/EN 9100 Certification
AS/EN 9100 is a quality management standard for the ASD industry published by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). The AS/EN 9100 quality standard is based on ISO 9001, adding requirements specific to the AS segment while striving to meet the needs of stakeholders.
Additions to note in AS9100 that are not included in ISO 9001 include:
- Production and Service Provision: This topic has the most additions in AS9100, due to it being specific to the aerospace industry. These changes include production processes, as well as required controls on production equipment and post-delivery support.
- Planning for Product Realization: AS9100 has additional requirements pertaining to project, risk, and configuration management of the products and control of work transfers. Risk identification and assessment are also detailed throughout the standard since risk is critical to the aerospace industry.
- Design and Development: There are additional requirements for the design verification and validation processes pertaining to proper testing and documentation.
- Purchasing and Purchased Product: This section includes additional requirements for supplier control.
- Non-Conforming Processes: AS9100 delves deeper into how an organization must address non-conformance when identified, including what corrective action needs to be taken.
AS/EN 9110 Certification
The AS/EN 9110 standard pays special emphasis on the requirements critical to the maintenance of all aircrafts. In addition to the requirements present in AS/EN 9100, this standard includes additional criteria for maintenance repair and overhaul facilities for organizations serving the industry. Some areas the standard covers are detection and prevention of unapproved and counterfeit parts, human factors, as well as safety management systems.
AS/EN 9120 Certification
The AS/EN 9120 standard was developed for distributors and suppliers working with original equipment manufacturers. The standard focuses on product safety and reliability, and addresses critical product performance, conformity to specifications and airworthiness. It covers the chain of custody, traceability, stock control and availability of records as well.
BENEFITS OF ADOPTING AS9100
The adoption of the AS91XX quality management system allows the company to commit to a long-term goal. To achieve it, the decision-makers of the company will have several considerations, including the strategy and direction the company will take, the measures to identify and minimize risks, and compliance to the standard.
Beyond gaining a competitive advantage and global recognition, certified suppliers achieve a significant improvement in quality and safety while reducing cost throughout the value stream. They also reap benefits from the enhanced processes and achieve continual improvement. For instance, global airplane manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, TAI, Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney view the AS/EN 9100 standard as a key factor when selecting and evaluating suppliers.
