AS 9100 The Aerospace Standard for Systematic Operations

 

Reinventing the wheel is neither innovation nor cost effective method of implementing a management system. ISO 9001 provides the common standard for basic systematic approach to implementing a management system. Interpretations for various industries and services enable organizations to meet their continual improvement objectives. However, when interpretations become significant an industry specific standard becomes the need. AS 9100 was initially an ISO standard meeting the needs of the aerospace industry. It was an industry felt demand to have it under the industry umbrella, and now the AS 9100 standard is supported by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). The AS 9100 was an accepted standard even with ISO developing it. Originally it was developed by the US military who provided two specifications to supplier quality and inspection programs MIL0Q-9858A for quality requirements and the MIL-I-45208A for meeting the inspection requirements. The US government then adopted the ISO standards and the MIL specifications were dropped.

AS 9100 is now the accepted standard for the aerospace industry. The history of its development itself tells us that AS9100 is a well tried, accepted, approved standard based on vast experience. QMII (www.qmii.com ) has over the years built an expertise in auditing and consulting in AS 9100, AS 9110 as also providing some of the best in industry training on aerospace subjects. It is true all standards provide the fundamentals for an effective management system to mitigate risks and ensure continual improvement. However, risks in the context of the aerospace environment covered by AS9100 need specialized attention and care.

Take for insistence foreign object damage (FOD) and its negative implications in the aviation and aerospace context. These objects, articles or substances alien to an aircraft or its system could cause damage immediately or subsequently. AS9100 provides the clause to systematically address both internal and external FOD. External FOD risks come from hazards as hail, ice, and birds and sandstorms in deserts. Then carelessness in objects left on airfields, particularly runways can cause immense damage. It is not just the cost of the damage, the delays so caused but also accidents resulting in casualties. Good AS9100 auditors can during objective audits provide the valuable inputs to leadership to manage risk better.

AS 9100 does not provide prescriptive implementable recommendations, no standard does that. That is not the purpose of the standard, but it does provide the requirements to be interpreted and measures taken to address risks. AS9100 as in ISO 9001 also requires prompt addressing of nonconformities (NC) to drive correction and corrective action. AS 9100 implementation ensures processes result in confirming products and services. This proactive approach by addressing risk and in welcoming and addressing NCs benefits all aviation and aerospace stakeholders. Inspections do protect the client by preventing non confirming products from leaving the organization, but the cost of waste and rejection can ruin businesses. AS9100 addresses NCs at the process level so the results are confirming products. AS9100 cannot guarantee outcome, but it certainly provides the best cost-effective systematic approach to reducing waste, cutting costs, and ensuring safety.

AS9100 training therefore is a responsibility. The intend is to produce a good AS9100 and AS 9110 auditors as a product who understand the ethics and need for absolute factual objectivity in auditing in the context of the aerospace environment and the industries inherent potential significant risks. QMII understands this and has for 30 plus years met the highest standards for the aviation and aerospace industry by training and consulting in AS9100 with that care and due diligence. Our auditors and auditing standards based on ISO19011 adopted for the aerospace industry context meet the industry expectations.