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Industry Specific Standards

AS 9100

Introduction

AS 9100 is the US version of a globally harmonized quality management system standard for aerospace industries. It is based on the international Quality Management System (QMS) standard, ISO 9001. It supplements ISO 9001 by focusing on the unique, complex, and highly regulated nature of the aerospace industry. Specifically, it emphasizes the critical aspects of key characteristics and the need to satisfy internal, governmental and regulatory requirements. Other equivalent versions of this standard are coded as EN 9100 in Europe and JIS Q 9100 in Japan. The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) publishes these standards.

Benefits of Implementation

AS 9100 provides uncountable benefits - both tangible and intangible. A typical organisation would enjoy the following:

• fulfil one of the conditions of supply
• gain customer recognition and approval and open doors to the worldwide markets
• meet regulatory requirements, as well as the industry's expectations
• have lower production costs because of fewer nonconforming products, less rework, lower reject rates, streamlined processes and fewer mistakes
• and ultimately, a reduction in customer complaints and retention of customers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How different is ISO AS 9100 from ISO 9001?

For one, regulatory requirements are critical functions within the industry. The requirements within AS 9100 are complementary to contractual and applicable law and regulations. The requirements of customers, regulatory agencies (such as the FAA and the JAA) and local, state and national laws are also referenced within the system's documentation.

Another is the AS 9100 standard provides guidance for managing variation when a "key characteristic" is identified. Features of a material, process or part in which the variation has a significant influence on product fit, performance, service life or manufacturability are key characteristics and the organization has to establish and document a configuration management process.

Given the complexity of aerospace products and customers' expectations for reliable performance during a protracted period of time, AS 9100 includes extensive supplementation in design-and-development functions. Design outputs are supplemented to provide identification of key characteristics, and the data essential for the product that will be identified, manufactured, inspected, used and maintained is detailed.