Roadmap to AS9100 Certification Implementation

by Isabel Blamey Professional writer

This article is an insightful guide for all aerospace businesses or manufacturing units that strive hard to achieve AS9100 certification and demonstrate their focus on quality.

Today every business, irrespective of the product or service they provide, needs an appropriate quality management system (QMS). A QMS helps businesses succeed with higher efficiency and cost minimization by eliminating defects and poor services. Aerospace businesses also need quality assurance services in order to implement an effective QMS into their processes, ensuring the safety of their manufactured products.

Poor management systems result in wasteful processes, low-quality products, and dissatisfied customers. The key to implementing a practical, valuable QMS in an aerospace business is the AS9100 standard. It is based on ISO 9001, but expands the scope to additional requirements and quality controls that apply to aerospace and defense sectors.

Here is a step-by-step guide that explains the AS9100 standard implementation process.

Step 1: Decision Making

The first step is initiated by the top management, as they decide how to pursue AS9100 registration, which agency to hire for the process, and start to plan the steps to AS9100 certification. Top management must be able to demonstrate their commitment to the implementation of the QMS in their organization as they will have to communicate the statutory and regulatory requirements of the standard to every employee, ensuring they are adequately met by the QMS.

Step 2: Performing GAP assessment

The next step is to compare the current quality system with the requirements specified by the AS9100 standard. Also called a GAP assessment, this step will help you know the key flaws in the existing system and determine the modifications that need to be done, or other relevant aspects that should be added in the system. Therefore, GAP assessment will help to formulate the new QMS for the aerospace manufacturing processes, rectifying failures in the previous system.

Step 3: QMS Implementation Planning

Following the GAP assessment, the manufacturing unit management needs to plan for QMS implementation. They need to develop a detailed implementation plan for the QMS by identifying the key tasks and requirements that it needs to become compliant with the AS9100 standard.

Step 4: Documentation Development

Documentation is a structured and written statement that describes the process hierarchy in the QMS. Therefore, the next step involves documenting the QMS, including the hierarchy, procedures, work instructions and forms, and the data or information needed to support the processes. Besides this, documentation should also primarily include an explanation of the scope of the QMS, including the company’s quality policy.

Step 5: Implementation of QMS

Once documentation is completed, the aerospace manufacturer needs to prepare employees for QMS implementation. This includes employee training, where management can communicate how the new QMS will be put into practice, and what the new processes or work instructions are.

Step 6: Internal Auditing

The manufacturer will have to hire a recognized certification agency to provide audit services. These professional auditors will review the QMS documentation and confirm whether everything meets the AS9100 standard requirements. When satisfied with the documentation, they will ensure the implemented QMS reflects the documented system. If any major flaws or non-conformities are identified, the auditors will advise corrective actions.

Step 7: Certification & Continual Improvement

After the certification agency completes the audit and declares the QMS as compliant, the manufacturing unit will be AS9100 certified. This certificate is valid for 3 years, and it requires consistent maintenance and the continuous improvement of the QMS.

In Conclusion

Though AS9100 certification may seem complex, following this step-by-step guide will make the journey a lot simpler and easy to complete. Getting assistance from quality assurance services consultants is recommended, as they can effectively guide your business through this process.

Author Bio: Damon Anderson is an expert quality assurance services consultant who has been with a certification agency for many years, helping businesses implement quality management systems for efficiency and growth. He is a blog writer as well, writing guides and best practices for different certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001 and AS9100 certification.

Contact Details:

Business Name: Compliancehelp Consulting, LLC

Email Id: info@quality-assurance.com

Phone No: 877 238 5855