AS9100 Aerospace Quality Management

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Guidelines to an Aerospace Quality Management System

raising standards worldwide

 Every organization, regardless of size or sector, strives
to provide a quality culture that will permeate through
every level of their organization. But establishing optimal
working practices, which can enhance profit as well as
customer satisfaction, does not happen by accident.

Todays most successful companies know the importance

of having a proven Quality Management System (QMS)
in place. Various quality management systems have been
used in the aerospace industry for many years. They have
helped the industry deliver exemplary levels of product
quality and operational safety. However, suppliers faced
the need to maintain a different QMS for each of their
large Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).

INTRODUCTION

2 BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management

To establish a single common Aerospace Quality
Management System (AQMS), members of the
global aerospace industry worked together to
produce AS9100 and its supporting family of
standards. Its use is supported by the worlds
leading aerospace companies including Boeing,
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls
Royce Allison, General Electric Aircraft Engines
and NASA.
Your certification is a sign of acceptability Potential reduction in variation of
that helps you demonstrate your quality quality and increase in efficiency
standards to customers. Certification
Potential reduction in 2nd party
to AS9100 is associated with the
system audits
following benefits:
Common language to improve
Demonstration of operation to globally
understanding of quality requirements
recognized aerospace quality standards
Compliance with a system supported
Improved product and process quality
by regulatory bodies
Additional confidence for global
Excellent levels of traceability
sourcing
throughout the supply chain
Common quality system approach
in the supply chain for supplier/
subcontractor development
and consistency

BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management 3

 ISO 9001:2000 AS THE BASIS OF AS9100
AS9100 is based upon ISO 9001:2000. You will need to understand this standard,
plus what was added to generate AS9100.

ISO 9001:2000, as its core, has the principle of process management and the
Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (see below).

ISO 9001:2000 is a process based approach to management which helps

understand what you do, rather than a procedure based approach which shows
how your activities are controlled.

This enables organizations to link business objectives with business effectiveness

more directly. The ISO 9001:2000 process approach views an organization as a
series of interacting processesthe very processes which produce the products
and services customers buy.

Continual improvement of the quality management system

Management

Act
Plan
Strategic Improve

Customer Measure Customer

Requirements Resource Analyze Satisfaction
Improve
Detailed Detailed
Plan Check

Realize
Do Do
Product/Service

4 BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management

DEVELOPMENT OF AEROSPACE
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS STANDARDS
AS9100 contains supplements to ISO 9001:2000. This is
the key difference between the two standards and is
meant to satisfy industry, internal, government and
regulatory requirements.
AS9100 was developed by representatives from the
aerospace industry in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It is
published in the Americas by the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE).
AS9100 is the first of a family of aerospace standards and
is intended for use by aerospace manufacturers and
suppliers. The related AS9003 is for organizations
undertaking inspection and test activities, AS9110 is a
QMS structure for aerospace maintenance organizations,
while AS9120 helps aerospace stockists/distributors. Key
emphasis of these related standards will be traceability.
BSI CAPABILITY AND BENEFITS OF
CERTIFICATION WITH BSI
BSIproviding solutions, producing results
When you choose BSI as your business partner, you are also
choosing our international reputation for excellence. We
are the largest and most respected management systems
certification body in the world. Our office locations around
the world are regarded universally as a global service provider
of the highest quality and integrity.
In addition to management systems certification, we offer
a range of complementary services that provide real added
value, including: training courses, the development of
schemes, product testing and product certification.
Here are some additional reasons to choose BSI:
We employ aerospace assessors with extensive commercial
and military aerospace experience who undergo thorough
training and qualification processes. This ensures that when
they visit your company they understand the needs and
specific requirements of your industry.
Our certification service is accredited by an independent
accreditation service, ensuring integrity of the
certification decision.
Use of the highly regarded BSI Certification Mark.
Strong links with other standards and technical
consultancies.
BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management 5
THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
There are nine steps to implementing an AS9100 based QMS and achieving certification with BSI:

STEP 1 Before you can begin preparing your system, you will need a copy of the standard.
PURCHASE THE STANDARD You may purchase your copy at: www.sae.org

There are a large number of tools that can be very helpful at every stage of the
STEP 2
process of implementing any ISO 9001:2000 based QMS. We recommend
REVIEW SUPPORT
The Route to Registration published by BSI, which is available at:
LITERATURE AND SOFTWARE
www.bsiamericas.com/route2reg

You should begin the entire implementation process by assembling your team.
STEP 3
Responsibility for a QMS lies with top management. Therefore, it is vital that top
ASSEMBLE AN
IMPLEMENTATION TEAM management is involved at the beginning of the process with the
implementation team.

A wide range of training courses are available to assist, at every level of

STEP 4
understanding. To gain more information on training please visit:
CONSIDER TRAINING
www.bsiamericas.com/aerotraining

Using a consultant to help you through the process can be very helpful, but
STEP 5
consider the costs versus the benefits. Download BSIs 10 Tips for the Selection and
REVIEW CONSULTANCY
OPTIONS Use of a Quality Management Systems Consultant at:
www.bsiamericas.com/getthemost

STEP 6
Involve staff to use and implement your QMS through training and awareness.
IMPLEMENT YOUR QMS

The certification body is the third-party, like BSI, who assess the effectiveness of
STEP 7
your QMS and issues a certificate if you meet the requirements of the standard.
CHOOSE A
CERTIFICATION BODY Consider industry experience, geographic coverage, price and service level when
choosing your certification body.

STEP 8 The key step to certification is a certification assessment, during which your entire
GAIN CERTIFICATION AS9100 management system will be assessed.

6 BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management

THE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS WITH BSI
There are seven steps to gaining certification to AS9100 with BSI:

STEP 1 You will be asked to complete a company profile. Our professionals will do
INITIAL INQUIRY everything they can to help you through this process.

STEP 2
We will forward a proposal for delivery of assessment services.
QUOTATION PROVIDED

STEP 3
Submit a formal application to us.
APPLICATION COMPLETED

STEP 4 Your principal contact with us throughout the certification process and beyond
CLIENT MANAGER will be appointed. They will have knowledge concerning the nature of your
APPOINTED business and will offer support while you develop your system.

STEP 5 An optional pre-assessment can be undertaken to review your QMS and to

PRE-ASSESSMENT establish your readiness for initial assessment.
(OPTIONAL)

The formal assessment of your system is entirely objective. It reviews the

practices youve claimed and that your system meets the requirements of
STEP 6
the standard. Once the AS9100 checklist is completed, a score is
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
calculated. You will be informed of the recommendation before the
assessment team leaves your premises.

The Initial Assessment report is independently reviewed, the formal

STEP 7 certification decision taken and, if successful, your certificate of
CERTIFICATION CONFIRMED certification is issued. Then you can begin to advertise your success and
promote your certification with us.

Your certification body will periodically visit you to ensure your system
STEP 9
continues to meet the requirements of the standard. The AS9100 checklist is
ONGOING ASSESSMENT
updated and the score is revised.

BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management 7

AS9100 - AN EXPLANATION
OF THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

SUMMARY CLAUSE 4
OF ADDITIONS QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The developers of AS9100 added elements to: Documentation
This aims to make documentation more specific to the
Ensure that quality in the aerospace industry is maintained
aerospace industry and helps to meet the regulatory
at the highest level, in part due to the criticality of the use
requirements set by bodies such as the FAA.
of the final product.
Configuration management
Focus on the identification and management of key
An element unique to the aerospace industry, this requires
characteristics of products.
strict control of drawings of parts and aircraft, including the
Recognize the requirements set by regulatory bodies, identification and control of manufacturing specifications,
as well as ensure records are kept and activities are external customer documents and quality records.
conducted to help meet these requirements. The ultimate
aim is to reduce the government oversight of aerospace
manufacturers and suppliers.

Recognize the complex nature of the final products and the

need to ensure complete confidence in every component of
the final product.

Recognize the use of sub-contract organizations within a

process and ensure this is effectively managed.

8 BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management

 The following pages detail clause-by-clause
the core concepts that have been included in
AS9100, over and above ISO 9001:2000

CLAUSE 5 GENERAL
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY NEW COMMITMENT
Roles By applying to become certified to AS9100, a company is
This gives stronger weight and importance to the role of also giving authority for OEMs and regulatory authorities
the quality manager, ensuring they have authority to make to accompany BSI on assessments and oversee activities at
changes when appropriate. Without support from senior any time this is not normal practice for companies certified
management, the role of the quality manager is useless. only to ISO 9001:2000. Regulatory authorities within the
aerospace industry have legal right of access at any time.
CLAUSE 6 Therefore a certified company is saying, We are certified,
therefore we are good all the time, come look for yourself.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Work environment
This recognizes the need for strong emphasis on cleanliness
and precision required in the manufacturing of
aerospace parts.

BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management 9

CLAUSE 7
PRODUCT REALIZATION
Planning
It places an emphasis on the long term and life cycle of a
product including support and maintenance. Aerospace
parts usually have a long life cycle and require traceability
from specification to disposal. This clause also includes a
requirement for implementing a Foreign Object Elimination
(FOE) process/program.
Purchasing
This recognizes the regulatory requirements in the area of
supplier control. The aim is to ensure that authentic parts
are used and there is accountability and responsibility in all
activities. This includes an increased role in verification of
product as it is received. This is when a company assumes
responsibility for supplied parts.

Customer related processes Production and service provision

Because of the nature of this industry, emphasis is placed on This is where key characteristics come to life, and the
the subject of risk evaluation (e.g. where new technology associated importance of traceability and control through
is implemented or where demands are set for short delivery effective documentation are recognized.
time of products or services). As there are a number of
Calibration
activities that can impact risk, this subject should be given
The requirements for the control of monitoring and
special attention.
measuring devices in ISO 9001:2000 is amplified by the
Design additional provisions of AS9100.
Basic requirements are more robust due to the importance
and cost of investment often required. The additional
requirements focus on the key characteristics of products.
This is where the people, tasks and equipment are identified
and need to be classified to ensure the key characteristics are
effectively managed throughout the process.

10 BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management

CLAUSE 8 MEASUREMENT,
ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT
General
This is necessary for gathering information and trend
analysis for the long-term benefit in the aerospace industry.
In addition, it provides the need to analyze product at all
phases, from design to the end use. Record keeping is of
high importance to support this activity.
Control of non-conforming product
It recognizes the need and practice in the aerospace industry
for a more robust process for disposition and identification
of non-conforming products. Overall it recognizes the need
to prevent a non-conforming product from entering the
industry, and allows customers to know if a part has been
reworked at any time.
It also recognizes the aerospace term and practice of
conducting First Article inspection.
Corrective action
This requires the need to involve the supplier when they are
reasoned to be the root cause of the problem.
AS9100
CHECKLIST
The AS9100 checklist is a fairly significant addition to the
management systems assessment process and is the major
difference companies will see during an assessment.
At the initial assessment or upgrade assessment, the checklist
is completed in full. The score will be made available through
the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) web-
based database, OASIS. At each continuing assessment visit,
the assessor completes the checklist for only those activities
covered during the assessment and the total score is updated.
This score is an evaluation of effectiveness of the QMS.
This scoring methodology was added to provide a clear
and consistent assessment of an organizations ability and
performance to provide a benchmark against which continual
improvement can be measured.
BSI Management Systems Aerospace Quality Management 11
 BSI/USA/66/MS/1007/E
BSI Management Systems BSI Management Systems - Brazil
12110 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 200 Avenida Eng Luis Berrini
Reston, VA 20190-5902 N. 1400 1 Andar CEP: 04571-000
USA Brookline, Sao Paulo
Tel: 1 800 862 4977 SP
Fax: 1 703 437 9001 Brasil
Email: inquiry.msamericas@bsi-global.com Tel: +55 13 3223 5770
www.bsiamericas.com Fax: +55 13 3223 3851
Email: informacao.msamericas@bsi-global.com
BSI Management Systems Canada www.bsibrasil.com.br
6205 Airport Road, Suite 102
Mississauga, ON BSI Management Systems - Mxico
L4V 1E1 Torre Mayor
Canada Av. Paseo de la Reforma No. 505
Tel: 1 800 862 6752 Piso 41 -Suite C-
Fax: 1 416 620 9911 Col. Cuauhtemoc, C.P. 06500
Email: inquiry.canada@bsi-global.com Mxico, D.F.
Mxico
Tel: +52 55 5241 1370
Fax: +52 55 5241 1374
Email: informacion.msamericas@bsi-global.com
www.bsiamericas.com/Mexico

The BSI certification mark can be used on your stationery, literature

and vehicles when you have successfully achieved certification.

BSI Group: Standards Information Training Inspection Testing Assessment Certification