Aerospace Quality Management System
AS9100 is the quality management system (QMS) standard specific to the aerospace industry. The current version, AS9100 Rev D published in 2016, includes the ISO 9001:2015 standard verbatim and adds supplementary requirements that apply to the aerospace industry.
These supplementary requirements emphasize areas that impact on process and service safety, quality and reliability for aerospace products. It is designed to meet the complex and unique demands of the aerospace industry, from commercial aviation to defense and includes several additional requirements to ISO 9001 that participating aerospace OEM companies felt were necessary to clearly define their expectations for aerospace suppliers.
The requirements within AS9100 are complementary to contractual and applicable regulations. Those implementing a QMS conforming to AS9100 must ensure that the specific requirements of their customers, country aviation regulatory agencies, and local, state and national laws are also referenced within the system's documentation.
First published in May 1997 by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) as AS9000, the AS standard has evolved to AS9100:2016 Rev D and is recognized by all major Aerospace OEMs. It combines and harmonizes requirements defined by the SAE and IAQG in the Americas, European, and Asia Pacific Sectors.
The aircraft and aerospace industries have recognized AS9100 as a means for continually improving quality and on-time delivery within their supply chain. Most of the major aircraft engine manufacturers, such as General Electric (GE), Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, are requiring their suppliers to be certified to AS9100.
Benefits of AS9100
- Incorporates best practices of the aerospace industry
- Demonstrates your commitment to delivering quality products and services to your customers
- Aligns your quality management system with the global standard adopted by the aerospace industry
- Improves your new market / new customer prospects on a worldwide basis
- For design responsible organizations supports a robust process to meet safety and reliability requirements demanded by the Aerospace industry
- Improves process consistency and stability
- Purchasing requires effective controls over the organization’s entire supply chain
- Product Realization- ensures that each phase of product realization, from planning, procuring, and manufacturing to shipment, is controlled for delivery of product conforming to customer requirements
- Reduces organizational waste, inefficiencies, and defects
- Creates independent feedback to foster continual improvement
- Improves customer satisfaction and increases customer confidence