A Beacon of Excellence
An Aerospace Quality Management System (AQMS) is not just a framework; it’s a commitment to excellence. Tailored to the aerospace industry’s unique demands, AQMS is the backbone that ensures organizations involved in the design, production, maintenance, and distribution of aerospace products achieve and maintain the pinnacle of quality, safety, and reliability.
The bedrock of AQMS, AS 9100 extends beyond ISO 9001 to meet the aerospace sector’s elevated standards. It’s the passport to excellence for organizations crafting the future of aviation, space, and defense.
AS 9110
Designed for the guardians of aerospace safety, AS 9110 zeroes in on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, ensuring that every aircraft returns to the skies in impeccable condition.
AS 9120
The sentinel of aerospace distribution, AS 9120 ensures that every component delivered meets the highest benchmarks of traceability, control, and conformity.
The aerospace sector stands on the pillars of globally acknowledged quality management standards, safeguarding aviation, space, and defense. In these realms, safety is not just a priority but the very essence of the entire supply chain. The smallest imperfection can ripple into critical outcomes.
The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) has crafted a trinity of standards: AS/EN9100, AS/EN9110, and AS/EN9120, each one a beacon of specialized excellence that extends the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard into the stratosphere of aerospace specificity.
The vanguard of aerospace standards, EN9100:2018 is the blueprint for organizations navigating the complex skies of designing, developing, or provisioning aviation, space, and defense products and services.
Mirroring its predecessors, EN9100:2018 lays down the runway for quality management systems, meticulously engineered for the aerospace sector’s safe trajectory from concept to liftoff, ensuring the integrity and quality of every component and service.
Rooted in the foundational ISO 9001 standards, EN9100:2018 soars with aerospace-centric amendments, charting a course for unparalleled quality and safety in an industry where the sky is not the limit, but the beginning.
Elevating Aerospace Excellence: The Quality Management Series
The aerospace sector stands on the pillars of globally acknowledged quality management standards, safeguarding aviation, space, and defense. In these realms, safety is not just a priority but the very essence of the entire supply chain. The smallest imperfection can ripple into critical outcomes.
The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) has crafted a trinity of standards: AS/EN9100, AS/EN9110, and AS/EN9120, each one a beacon of specialized excellence that extends the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard into the stratosphere of aerospace specificity.
EN9100:2018 (AS9100D/AS9100): The vanguard of aerospace standards, EN9100:2018 is the blueprint for organizations navigating the complex skies of designing, developing, or provisioning aviation, space, and defense products and services.
Mirroring its predecessors, EN9100:2018 lays down the runway for quality management systems, meticulously engineered for the aerospace sector’s safe trajectory from concept to liftoff, ensuring the integrity and quality of every component and service.
Rooted in the foundational ISO 9001 standards, EN9100:2018 soars with aerospace-centric amendments, charting a course for unparalleled quality and safety in an industry where the sky is not the limit, but the beginning.
AS 9100 stands as the cornerstone of aerospace quality management, universally adopted by organizations that architect, cultivate, or deliver aviation, space, and defense innovations. This comprehensive standard integrates the robust framework of ISO 9001 with supplementary criteria tailored for the aerospace arena.
A steadfast commitment to surpassing safety benchmarks, ensuring that every aerospace product not only meets but exceeds the stringent safety mandates.
A proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation, woven through the fabric of the product lifecycle, safeguarding every phase from conception to completion.
A meticulous strategy to preserve the fidelity of product configurations, ensuring consistency and precision across the aerospace supply chain.
A relentless pursuit of QMS enhancement, aligning with both regulatory and customer expectations to elevate the quality paradigm.
A strategic emphasis on project orchestration, spotlighting meticulous planning and adept management to steer aerospace projects to success.
AS 9110 is the specialized standard sculpted for the guardians of aerospace integrity — maintenance organizations. Building upon the foundation of AS 9100, it zeroes in on the nuances of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, ensuring that these critical operations are executed with unparalleled precision and care.
Orchestrating maintenance activities with masterful oversight, ensuring every task adheres to the highest standards of operational excellence.
Custodianship of customer-owned property is held to the utmost esteem, managing and protecting these assets with the diligence they deserve.
Mastery over maintenance and repair processes, ensuring that each action and decision is measured, controlled, and aligned with quality benchmarks.
The commitment to service quality is unwavering, guaranteeing that every customer receives nothing but the best in aerospace service and support.
Orchestrating maintenance activities with masterful oversight, ensuring every task adheres to the highest standards of operational excellence.
Custodianship of customer-owned property is held to the utmost esteem, managing and protecting these assets with the diligence they deserve.
Mastery over maintenance and repair processes, ensuring that each action and decision is measured, controlled, and aligned with quality benchmarks.
The commitment to service quality is unwavering, guaranteeing that every customer receives nothing but the best in aerospace service and support.
AS 9120 is the dedicated standard for aerospace distributors and stockists, a beacon guiding the journey of aerospace parts from their inception to their destination. It harmonizes the ISO 9001 framework with additional protocols tailored for the unique landscape of parts distribution within the aerospace sector.
A commitment to maintaining a clear lineage for each product, from the original manufacturer to the end customer, ensuring accountability and authenticity at every stage.
A vigilant process to ensure that all distributed products stand up to the rigorous customer and regulatory standards, embodying the essence of aerospace quality.
A relentless pursuit to elevate customer satisfaction, delivering consistency and excellence in every facet of the distribution process.
A strategic approach to stock management, safeguarding materials from any form of compromise, be it damage, deterioration, or mix-up.
Risk-Based Thinking: A Proactive Approach
At the core of EN9100:2018 is a proactive stance on risk management, ensuring that risk consideration is not just an afterthought but a foundational strategy. This approach embeds “prevention” into every layer
of strategic and operational planning, making it a cornerstone of the aerospace quality management ethos.
This clause addresses risks within the quality management system itself, encompassing new customer acquisition, market expansion, strategic partnerships, and localization of business operations.
In contrast, operational risk focuses on the risks inherent in the processes required to deliver products and services, such as contract reviews, adoption of new technologies, and the selection of external providers.
Product safety is a paramount concern in EN9100:2018, with requirements spanning the entire product lifecycle. This ensures that safety is not just a feature but the very fabric of every product.
The standard addresses the critical issue of counterfeit or fraudulent products, underscoring the importance of vigilance against emerging threats and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements within the AQMS.
EN9100:2018 equips organizations with a robust framework for managing change, fostering adaptability to shifting environments and circumstances. A comprehensive change control process is pivotal for maintaining business continuity and mitigating the impacts of change.
AS9100:2016 champions the cultivation of organizational knowledge through experience, lessons learned, and expert identification. It acts as a bulwark against knowledge loss due to staff turnover and promotes the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge, from benchmarking to mentoring.
Organizations are encouraged to proactively consider the implications of product obsolescence during the planning and design stages, ensuring long-term sustainability and relevance.
EN9100:2018 mandates heightened employee awareness regarding their role in product conformity, safety, and the importance of ethical behavior, reinforcing the culture of quality and integrity.
The standard recognizes the significance of human factors in root cause analysis, emphasizing the need to understand the interplay between human beings, machines, and their collective impact on performance.
When navigating the nuances of AS9100 in relation to ISO 9001, it’s the aerospace-specific enhancements that take center stage. AS9100 meticulously mirrors the structure of ISO 9001 while infusing it with additional, rigorous requirements that cater to the distinct demands of the aerospace industry. These critical augmentations are distinctly marked within the AS9100 documentation for clarity and emphasis.
Requirements for a complete Aerospace QMS
Applicable to any organization in the Aircraft, Space, or Defense Sector
Descriptive, but non prescriptive; the requirements say what needs to be done, but not how to do it
Requirements for a complete Aerospace QMS
Applicable only to Distributors in the Aircraft, Space, and Defense sectors
Descriptive, but non prescriptive; the requirements say what needs to be done, but not how to do it
Requirement for how to do a First Article Inspection
Not a requirement of AS9100 to meet clause 8.5.1.3, but is a reference document on how it can be applied
Prescriptive document; explains how to do the FAI including forms to complete and maintain as records
At QMet, we understand that businesses are dynamic entities. From expanding to new locations, introducing fresh activities, to shifts in workforce size, change is constant. That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our flexible solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate with your evolving business requirements, ensuring that your scope, standards, and management system remain perfectly attuned to your operational needs. Transparency is key – we value your candor. Should there be any changes, we count on you to inform us swiftly. This way, our partnership thrives on mutual trust, making sure that certification serves to empower your business, ensuring compliance is a benefit, not a burden.
AS9100: The Aerospace Benchmark for Quality – AS9100 stands as a specialized quality management system standard, predominantly embraced by entities within the defense, space, and aviation realms. The scope of AS9100D extends to any enterprise active in the aerospace sector or in partnership with aerospace entities. This encompasses:
While not a legal requirement, the AS9100 certification is frequently a critical factor for meaningful engagement across the aviation, space, and defense industries. Securing AS9100 certification opens doors to prominent OEMs and enhances your visibility within the supply chain, marking your business as a trusted player in the aerospace market.
QMet: Pioneers in Certification and Quality Excellence
QMet stands as a beacon of certification excellence, with a rich history of involvement in a diverse array of management system certifications, inspections, calibrations, testing, and personnel qualifications. Our journey towards accreditation is in full swing, aligning with esteemed bodies such as the Gulf Accreditation Center, Saudi Accreditation Center, SASO, Saber, and SFDA. This strategic move is in accordance with the standards set by the International Accreditation Forum and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. Since our inception in 2005, QMet has been at the forefront of industry innovation. Our dedicated team has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled ability to grasp the intricate needs of the industry, crafting reliable and robust solutions that cater to a wide spectrum of requirements.