What are the requirements of the AS9100 standard?
AS9100 is an international standard that defines the requirements for an aviation (aerospace) quality management system (AQMS). It is designed to help organizations deliver aviation products and services that meet the requirements of customers and other stakeholders.
The AS9100 standard is divided into 10 chapters (clauses). The 460 requirements are in chapters 4 to 10. The chapters cover the following areas:
1. Scope: This chapter defines the purpose and scope of the standard.
2. Normative references: This chapter identifies the normative documents that are used by the standard, including ISO 9001.
3. Terms and definitions: This chapter defines the terms used in the standard, see also the ISO 9001 and ISO 9000 standards.
4. Context of the organization
The organization shall:
- Identify its external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and its strategic direction, and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its aerospace quality management system
- Understand the needs and expectations of its stakeholders
- Determine the scope of its aerospace quality management system
- Establish and maintain its AQMS and processes concerned
5. Leadership
Top management shall:
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to the aerospace quality management system
- Ensure that the quality policy is established and communicated throughout the organization
- Appoint a person who shall have authority and responsibility for the development, implementation, and improvement of the aerospace quality management system
6. Planning
The organization shall:
- Establish objectives and processes related to risks and opportunities
- Plan actions to achieve these objectives
- Plan the changes
7. Support
The organization shall:
- Provide resources necessary to support the implementation and improvement of its aerospace quality management system
- Train, and provide the necessary competence for all personnel performing work affecting product conformity
- Make aware the personnel performing work affecting product conformity
- Communicate relevant information within and outside the organization
- Control the AQMS documentation
8. Operation
The organization shall:
- Plan, implement and control its operational processes
- Determine product and service requirements
- Plan and control design and development
- Control external providers
- Control production and traceability
- Check the conformity of the products and services released
- Prevent the use of non-conforming products
9. Performance evaluation
The organization shall:
- Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate the conformity of products and services with customer and stakeholder requirements
- Conduct internal audits in order to evaluate the effectiveness of its aerospace quality management system
- Realize management reviews at planned interval
10. Improvement
The organization shall:
- Identify and control nonconforming products and services
- Take action to prevent the recurrence of nonconforming products and services
- Continually improve the aerospace quality management system
Organizations that can demonstrate compliance with these requirements can obtain AS9100 certification.
AS9100 certification can provide numerous benefits to organizations involved in the aviation industry, including:
- Improved quality of aviation products and services
- Reduced defects and rework
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
- Simplified market access
- Reduced risk of recalls
- Compliance with aviation regulations
- Improved operational efficiency
- Enhanced employee morale
- Improved reputation
- Increased market share
AS9100 certification is a valuable tool for organizations that want to improve their quality and competitiveness in the aviation industry.
