Rolling with the Punches on a Continuous AS9100 Accreditation Program (Demo)

The AS9100 label is the gold standard for the aerospace manufacturing industry, but like everything else in the world, it must evolve to better adapt to upcoming developments. Genevieve Diesling writes about one such looming change, in her article for Quality Magazine:

The AS9100 standard remains one of the most well-known and successful models of an industry-operated-and-driven standard in existence today. AS9100 was released in 1999 by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the European Association of Aerospace Industries and is regularly attuned to marketplace needs. Currently in its third incarnation—Revision C, which was released in 2009—aviation, space and defense companies all have a vested interest in the standard, and many require compliance with AS9100 as a requisite for doing business. To stay true to its function of responding to industry needs, AS9100 is undergoing another amendment: Revision D. According to the Americas Aerospace Quality Group (AAQG), the standard must remain compliant with ISO 9001 (the quality management system standard upon which it is based) which itself is due for an upgrade in September 2015. As it stands, AS9100 Revision D should be finalized roughly in December 2015.

The slated revision may have some long-lasting effects among established companies, especially when it comes to developing the most advanced civil and military aviation technology yet. Increased production orders for passenger planes are expected with more demand for air travel projected within the next several years. As such, companies with AS9100 certification aiming for a bigger slice of the pie in the future should aspire to make the cut with the help of audit specialists like the good people at International Standards Authority, Inc.   Better preparing for AS9100D requires taking stock of what was done with Revision C as a benchmark of what to expect next. AS9100C’s changes included an expanded coverage of quality issues, which added requirements to risk management, project management, and configuration management to a number of key clauses. Where the coverage pertained to aerospace quality management, Rev. C now addresses quality concerns on aviation, space, and land/sea-based defense systems. Some details in AS9100D may be misunderstood by companies who have AS9100C label because of the writing, requiring further clarification from an auditor. An official interviewed for Diesling’s article said that a brand-new format is being explored for AS9100D, with the 9100C as the base model. Several committees tasked with writing the document are also compiling industry feedback on Rev C. It is important to get wind of what to expect with Revision D, even with its presentation barely a year out. A company like International Standards Authority, Inc. will prepare you for the new standard. (Source: Changes Ahead for AS9100, Quality Magazine, 10 July 2014)