AS9100 is an aerospace sector Quality Management System
standard. It is based on the ISO 9001 standard, but with additional
requirements specific to the aerospace sector. AS9100 Certification can
help aerospace organizations improve their performance, reduce risks, and
increase customer satisfaction. In this blog post, we will know what AS9100 Certification
is, why it is important, and how to achieve it.
What is AS9100 Certification?
AS9100 is a Quality Management System (QMS) standard that
defines the requirements for an organization to design, develop, produce,
install, and service aerospace products and services. It also covers the
management of suppliers and subcontractors.
AS9100 is derived from the ISO 9001 standard, which is the
most widely used QMS standard in the world. However, AS9100 has some additional
requirements that are specific to the aerospace industry, such as:
- Risk management
- Configuration management
- Design verification and validation
- Product identification and traceability
- Product preservation
- Control of production equipment and tools
- Control of monitoring and measuring devices
- First article inspection
- Control of nonconforming products
- Corrective and preventive actions
- Customer satisfaction
What are the 10 Sections into which AS9100 is divided?
The standard is divided into 10 sections, which are:
Section 1: Scope. This section defines
the purpose, scope, and applicability of the standard.
Section 2: Normative references. This
section lists the normative documents that are referenced in the standard.
Section 3: Terms and definitions. This
section provides the definitions of terms used in the standard.
Section 4: Context of the organization.
This section covers the understanding of the organization and its context, the needs,
and expectations of interested parties, the scope of the quality management
system, and the processes of the quality management system.
Section 5: Leadership. This section
covers leadership and commitment, the quality policy, the organizational roles,
responsibilities, and authorities, and the customer focus.
Section 6: Planning. This section
addresses steps to handle risks and opportunities, quality targets and planning
to attain them, and change management.
Section 7: Support. This section covers resources,
competence, awareness, communication, documented information, operational risk
management, configuration management, and control of externally provided
processes, products, and services.
Section 8: Operation. This section covers
the operational planning and control, requirements for products and services,
design and development of products and services, control of production and
service provision, release of products and services, control of nonconforming
outputs, prevention of counterfeit parts, operational awareness, control of
monitoring and measuring equipment, validation of production processes for
product acceptance, control of work transfers.
Section 9: Performance evaluation. This
section covers the monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation, internal
audit, management review, analysis and evaluation of data related to
nonconformities and corrective actions.
Section 10: Improvement. This section
covers the general requirements for improvement, nonconformity and corrective
action, continual improvement.
Each section contains clauses that specify the requirements
for the QMS. The organization must demonstrate that it meets all the applicable
requirements to achieve AS9100 certification.
Why is AS9100 Certification important?
AS9100 Certification can provide many benefits for
aerospace organizations, such as:
Enhanced Credibility: AS9100 Certification
demonstrates a commitment to quality and adherence to industry standards,
enhancing the organization's reputation and credibility in the aerospace
sector.
Improved Efficiency: Implementation of
standardized processes and risk management techniques leads to improved
efficiency and reduced operational waste.
Increased Customer Confidence: AS9100 Certification
assures customers that the organization has robust quality management systems
in place, leading to increased trust and confidence in the products or services
offered.
Global Market Access: AS9100 Certification
is often a prerequisite for supplying to aerospace companies worldwide,
enabling access to a broader market.
Supply Chain Integration: AS9100 Certification
facilitates seamless integration within the aerospace supply chain by ensuring
uniformity in quality standards and requirements.
How to get AS9100 Certification?
To achieve AS9100 Certification, an organization must
follow these steps:
1. Establish a QMS that meets the requirements of AS9100.
This involves defining the scope, processes, policies, objectives, roles,
responsibilities, resources, documentation, and records of the QMS. The
organization must also ensure that the QMS is aligned with its strategic
direction and context.
2. Implement the QMS throughout the organization.
This involves communicating, training, and engaging all the relevant personnel
in the QMS. The organization must also ensure that the QMS is integrated with
its existing processes and systems.
3. Monitor and measure the performance of the QMS.
This involves collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data and information on the
QMS processes, products, services, customers, suppliers, risks, opportunities,
and objectives. The organization must also conduct internal audits and management
reviews to verify the effectiveness of the QMS.
4. Improve the QMS based on the results of monitoring and
measurement. This involves identifying nonconformities, root causes,
corrective actions, preventive actions, and opportunities for improvement. The
organization must also implement changes and improvements to the QMS processes,
products, services, customers, suppliers, risks, opportunities, and objectives.
5. Choose an accredited certification body to conduct an
external audit of the QMS. This involves selecting a certification body
that has been accredited by an authoritative body to audit against AS9100. The
organization must also prepare for the audit by reviewing its QMS documentation
and records, conducting a self-assessment or a pre-audit, and addressing any
gaps or issues.
6. Undergo an external audit by the certification body.
This involves undergoing a stage 1 audit to check the readiness of the QMS for
certification, and a stage 2 audit to verify the compliance of the QMS with AS9100.
The organization must also provide evidence of its QMS performance and
improvement during the audit.
7. Receive AS9100 certification from the certification
body. This involves receiving a certificate of conformity that attests that
the organization's QMS meets the requirements of AS9100. The organization must
also maintain its AS9100 Certification by undergoing periodic
surveillance audits and recertification audits by the certification body.
Conclusion
AS9100 Certification is an asset for aerospace
organizations that want to improve their quality, performance, and customer
satisfaction. It is also a requirement for many aerospace customers and
regulators. To achieve AS9100 Certification, an organization must
establish, implement, monitor, measure, and improve a QMS that meets the
requirements of AS9100. It must also undergo an external audit by an accredited
certification body to verify its compliance with AS9100.
There is also other ISO certification that will benefit your organization; the companies should apply certificate through the leading consultant of ISO Certification in Delhi.
