Aerospace Standard – AS9100 Rev D

AS9100:2016 is the newest aerospace standard updated from AS9100:2009. AS9100D aerospace standard is based on the ISO 9001:2015 quality system requirements.

AS9100 Rev D takes the ISO 9001:2015 requirements and supplements them with additional quality system requirements, which are established by the aerospace industry. The purpose of the standard is to provide a single quality management system for use within the aerospace industry internationally.

AS9100 Rev D does not define the quality of your product or service, but rather provides the guidelines to achieve consistent results and continually improve the process. These standards build confidence for your customers that your organization has been certified by an accredited certification body and meet the applicable Aerospace Quality Management System Standard requirements. AS9100D is focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) manages the Standard.

AS9100 Rev D

AS9100 Rev D (2016) includes the ISO 9001:2015 requirements and supplements them with additional quality system requirements.  Compare AS9100D to ISO 9001:2015. Many of the changes (including) derived from the changes in ISO 9001, like:

• adopting the Annex L High Level Structure
• Context of the organization
• Interested Parties
• Accountability of top management
• Documented information
• Replacement of preventive action with risk based thinking
• Communication
• Change Management Program

However, AS9100 Rev D institutes some unique changes:

• Increased focus on counterfeit parts.
• Attention to the impact of human factors
• Product safety focus
• Ethics Training
• Supplier Monitoring (Delivery)
• Purchasing Flowdown

Key Principles IAQG 9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015

1. Customer Satisfaction Orientation – For all organizations, scope of activity and performance targets need to be focused on Customer satisfaction in term of Quality of Parts and services, as well as on time delivery and effective communication.
2. Leadership & Engagement of People – Customer satisfaction and quality performance is not only the scope of the quality department but all the management chain. From the CEO down to the most junior level, each person needs to know how he/she contributes to final goal.
3. Process Approach – All the processes are interacting with one other and are clearly defined and understood. There is no other way to manage the organization nowadays.
4. Continuous Improvement – There is no better source of inspiration than experience from the past and lessons learned. Organizations need to organize themselves to continuously find ways to improve their process regarding customer satisfaction and performance. Problems start to happen when you think you don’t have problems and relax the controls.
5. Risk Analysis Approach – Organizations need to be flexible and adapt easily to the events and changes, whether they are expected or not. To be robust in front of these situations, companies and organization need to be prepared and have anticipated these situations on their value chain in order to continuously satisfy clients’ needs and expectations. Risk and Opportunities must be addressed both at the system (organisational) and operational levels.
6. Multidisciplinary Approach – There is no longer an issue that can simply be handled by one service/department or function. The performance improvement comes from all the impacted parties and contributing ones.

Benefits of AS 9100:2016 

1. Streamline processes and better manage costs – Anticipation thanks to risk management approach will bring your organization at more mature level. Unexpected situation and related costs should be consequently significantly reduced.
2. Safeguard your organization’s good name – IAQG 9100 Series recognition remain compulsory for most aerospace stakeholders. It shows also how your organization is mature against aerospace industry stakes and demands.
3. Manage risk and your supply chain – It will show your capacity to anticipate and be prepared in front of unexpected situation. Applied on the all supply chain, Risk Management approach will bring you more confidence in your organization and performance of your product and services.
4. Flexibility in front of changes – Flexibility and adaptability is what is expected from the aerospace industry. Satisfying new standard requirements will bring evidence that your organization is robust and mature in handling change management.