AS 9100- Quality Standards for the Aerospace Industry

Plastics now play a major role in the aerospace industry, for both technical versatility, as well as having exceptional strength and weight advantages. Plastics in a variety of forms, including polymers, laminates, and flame retardant materials, as well as tooling design, have contributed significantly to the current innovative state of the aerospace industry . So for any business which supplies this valuable and rapidly expanding sector, achieving AS 9100, the specific quality standard for the aerospace industry, is now an essential step, demonstrating throughout the supply chain that safety, reliability, and confidence are top of the priority list.

The AS9100 group of standards is aligned with ISO 9001 (quality management), and has been tailored specifically for the aerospace industry, with enhanced focus on safety, reliability and regulatory compliance.
Developed by aerospace engineers in the USA and Europe, working closely with the International Standards Organization (ISO), AS9100 simplifies and standardizes the previous diversity of quality documentation. Now all aerospace manufacturers and suppliers worldwide require compliance to AS9100 as a condition of doing business.
Quality and reliability are essential for the aerospace industry, where errors, shortcuts, or lack of attention to detail can be fatal. A quality management system (QMS) helps to reduce risks, ensures consistency, and provides a reliable framework for the whole supply chain. Communication is essential, and this standard lists seven areas for consideration, from clarifying engineering requirements to managing test specimens, and right of access to suppliers’ facilities.
Working on the same principle as the ISO standards, AS9100 follows the successful Plan-Do-Check-Act model. Existing systems are incorporated. Benefits include more consistent verification methods, and fewer audits.

AS 9100 can help plastics suppliers in a number of ways. As the standard is built on existing systems and industry best practice, it naturally supports international regulatory requirements, providing guidance for managing variation of “key characteristics”. The documents generated can be used to validate test results, as well as enabling consistency in verification methodology. As with all ISO standards, AS 9100 includes a planning structure, with interim control points, and has continuous improvement built-in.

Integration with other standards: while AS9100 can be implemented on its own, it has been based on ISO 9001. It enjoys international recognition, and is an auditable standard which can be awarded third party certification. When a business already has ISO9001 in place, achieving AS9100 becomes much simpler. With an estimated million ISO 9001 certificates now issued in 170 countries, the ISO 9001 standards have been written to enable the company to relate them to other management systems relevant to the plastics sector.

This content has been kindly provided by Business Support Network Member IMSM