AS9100 Certification

AS9100 is a quality assurance standard, released by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). The “AS” is “AS9100” stands for “Aerospace.” This standard has been built on top of the ISO 9001 standard, meaning that the aerospace requirements are inserted in addition to the ISO 9001 requirements. This means that an AS9100 Quality Management System conforms to not only AS9100, but ISO 9001 as well. Companies who get certified to AS9100, by default become certified to ISO 9001 as well.

AS9100 is endorsed by many government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and FAA. Many prime aerospace contract holders, such as Boeing, require certification to AS9100 by many of its sub-tier suppliers.

One of the key points to understand when considering whether to Implement AS9100 centers around the safety of the people and the products traveling through the air. ISO 9001 can apply to any business or industry, including ones who do not directly affect safety. In ISO 9001 the company identifies and defines the risks and criticality of the products and services for the industry they belong to and establish a Quality Management System capable of managing the level of criticality and risk identified. In some cases, the industry the company is operating in will have already established expectations, based on the criticality of the products and services provided. Aerospace is one such industry.
The additional requirements of AS9100 are largely based on these additional, industry specific expectations. So, even though the wording of the ISO 9001 requirements remains the same,their application when designing a QMS must effectively manage the criticality expectedby an industry where safety and quality are not a bonus, they are fundamental.

When properly implemented, AS9100 provides significant advantages in operational clarity and consistency, as well as the ability to not only work as an internal team, but also working together with customers and suppliers.

See our Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Certified for additional information on pursuing AS9100 certification.