The AS9100 Quality Management System Standard
AS9100 is the quality management system (QMS)
standard for the aviation, space, and defense industries. It is governed by the
International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG)
of SAE
International (not ISO). The goal of the IAQG is to
improve product quality and on-time delivery of products. They do this through
the cooperative implementation of initiatives intended to make significant
improvements in quality and reductions in cost throughout the value stream.
However, the overall 9100 quality standard *is* based on ISO 9001, adding requirements specific to the aviation, space and defense industry, while striving to meet the needs of stakeholders and move forward the IAQG strategy.
The First Bearing Company to Earn AS9100 Rev C Certification
AST Bearings officially received its AS9100 Rev C certification for its quality management system on August 12, 2011. According to IAQG’s Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (OASIS) database, AST Bearings was the first bearing
company in the world to earn its AS9100 Rev C certification. Furthermore, on May 3, 2012, AST Bearings successfully completed its annual AS9100C "Surveillance Audit" at a time that many companies had yet to even qualify the first time for the new, more stringent standard. The Surveillance Audit was perfomed by Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc., one
of the world’s foremost authorities in quality certification.
AS9100 Rev B - Not Valid After June 2012
Released in January of 2009, AS 9100 Rev. C (sometimes called AS9100:2009 or AS9100C) is the fourth and very latest release of the standard set by the SAE International, Of note: Unless a company complies with the more rigorous Revision C requirements by July 1, 2012, their existing AS9100 certification (AS9100 Rev B or sometimes referred to AS9100:2004) will no longer be valid. A business seeks to attain this latest certification as recognition of efforts made to adopt a quality culture, continuous process improvement, to ensure consistent results and maintain peak customer satisfaction.
Reasons why the AS9100 Standard was changed:
There were many reasons the old version AS9100:2004 (Rev B) had to be changed. Among them were:
- Account for and incorporate the changes made to ISO 9001:2008
- Expand scope to include defense applications including land and sea based systems
- Ensure alignment with International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) strategy (on-time, on-quality performance)
- Adopt new requirements based on the needs of the stakeholders including the IAQG and its sector member companies, IAQG Strategy Streams and Teams, suppliers, civil airworthiness authorities, certification/registration bodies, defense industry and authorities, space industry companies, regulatory authorities and trade group associations.
- Enhance current requirements where stakeholders acknowledged need for clarification is required including situations when a documented procedure is require
Goals and Objectives of the Revision C Version of AS9100
- Expansion of scope statement to include “Aviation, Space and Defense”;
- Changes to the design specification;
- Greater focus on planning and project management; and additional emphasis on risk management and mitigation.
- ISO 9001:2008 changes have also been incorporated.
- Addition of new term “Special requirements” – are requirements identified by the customer or requirements which have high risk to the organization.
- Addition of new term “Critical Items” – are for example processes, characteristics, parts and software which have significant impact on the product realization & use of product.
Changes Made to AS9100 in Revision C
With the goal of striving to meet the needs of stakeholders in mind, nearly 700 comments and change recommendations were reviewed and dispositioned by the IAQG 9100 team. This resulted in seventeen major changes in the Rev C version including:
- Six additions regarding: Risk, Special Requirements, Critical Items, Customer Focus/Satisfaction, Project Management, and Risk Management,
- Three deletions regarding: Quality Manual Requirements, Validation of Test Reports, and Detailed Tools and Techniques.
- Eight revisions/relocations regarding: AS9100 Scope and Application, QMS General Requirements, Configuration Management, Work Transfer, Recognition of Supplier Quality Data, Approval status for suppliers, Production Process Verification, and Sampling Inspection
Key Components of AS9100 Rev C for AST
AS9100 Rev C provides a number of requirements that must be fulfilled to achieve customer satisfaction through products and services which meet customer expectations. This includes a requirement for planned and continual improvement of the Quality Management System. Specifically for AST, key components of their quality policy require:
- Verified customer satisfaction
- Continuous improvement
- Understanding and conforming to customer requirements
- Deploying and maintaining a compliant AS9100 Rev. C Quality Management System
The certification represents affirmation by a third-party registrar that when purchasing AST products and services, the customer is assured of world-class quality and reliability. The AS9100 audit of AST was carried out by Southfield, Michigan-based Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc., one of the world’s foremost authorities in quality certification.
Have a Quality Question?… Just Ask!
Please remember, as questions about quality come to mind, AST’s tribology specialists, mechanical, and quality engineers are available to answer your questions. If you have a question, just ask!
