What is AS9100?
AS9100 is the international standard for Quality Management for organisations that develop, design, or provide products and services in Aviation, Space and Defence (ASD) industry. The standard provides suppliers with the requirements for creating and maintaining a comprehensive quality system for providing safe and reliable products to the ASD industry.
AS9100 was released in October 1999, by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the European Association of Aerospace Industries. AS9100 replaced the earlier AS9100 and now fully incorporates the entirety of the current version of ISO 9001, while also adding requirements related to quality and safety. Major aerospace manufacturers and suppliers worldwide require compliance and/or certification to AS9100 as a condition of doing business with them. AS9100 also address many of the requirements of the SC21 standard.
Major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) such as Airbus and Boeing are members of the IAQG group that make amendments and changes to the regulation and many OEMs mandate that suppliers have the approvals.
Why Should it be Considered?
AS9100 standardises quality management system requirements for companies involved with the aerospace industry and their supply chain. The standard is built of the general ISO 9001 standards for quality management systems, adding industry-specific guidelines for the safe development, production and distribution of quality aerospace products and parts.
The certification can be achieved by all levels of the supply chain by organisations around the world to improve quality and delivery performance, as well as reducing costs. This is achieved through reducing or eliminating the unique organisational requirements, effective implementation of the AS9100 Quality Management System and the application of good business practices.
What are the Benefits?
Customer Satisfaction
The AS9100 standards requires a better understanding of the requirements of your customer so you can better meet their needs which will lead to more repeat business and therefore, better sales in the future.
Improved Image
Due to AS9100 being an internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems in the Aviation, Space and Defence (ASD) industry, it has become the default expectation for customers. Therefore, not having this standard is likely to restrict your ability to supply in this sector.
Increased Efficiency
AS9100 is a process-based approach to understanding how you provide your products and services and has an emphasis on having an understanding on how your processes interact. By having an overall view of your business processes, you’re able to find and eliminate inefficiencies within your current system resulting in a better delivery of products and services.
Information and Analysis:
Information is essential to any businesses decision making. Implementing AS9100 will enable the identification of suitable metrics for your business processes, which will enable you obtain a true picture of operational and business performance. Not only will this tell you where things are working effectively, it will also identify pain points and provide a framework for addressing these.
How can Quadra help?
Gap Analysis:
Quadra will measure your organisations current systems and controls against the AS9100 requirements.
Action Plan:
Planning will then take place for the key steps and milestones in the AS9100 implementation and certification process.
System Development:
Key pieces of content will then be developed for the system e.g., business processes, risk management frameworks, and controls, policy and objectives, and policies and procedures.
Implementation Support:
Quadra will provide your organisation with support to help build evidence of compliance with AS9100.
Prepartation for External Audit:
We can also assist with preparation for external audit by conducting internal audits and management reviews. As well as attending the certification audit.
In-House Training:
Quadra can provide training for 4 or more delegates on the AS9100 standard – this includes awareness training to provide delegates with a better understanding of the standard or internal audit training.
