For many small to mid-sized machine shops, ISO 9001 certification can feel like a big question mark. You may hear customers asking about it, competitors advertising it, or consultants recommending it but is ISO 9001 actually worth the time, cost, and effort for a machine shop?

In highly regulated industries, quality management is not just about efficiency—it’s about patient safety, regulatory compliance, and trust. For organizations involved in the design, manufacturing, and servicing of medical devices, ISO 13485 is the global standard that defines what a compliant Quality Management System (QMS) should look like.

This is where a Quality Management System (QMS) becomes not just helpful, but essential. A well-implemented QMS allows machine shops to scale operations without losing control of quality, compliance, or consistency. Whether you’re pursuing ISO 9001, AS9100, or simply trying to run a tighter operation, a QMS provides the structure needed to grow sustainably.

The AS9100 Standards are more than a certification; it’s a tool for building reliable, consistent, and safe aerospace products.

We Summarize the Top Shops 2025 Conference experience which brought together machinists, manufacturing leaders, engineers, software innovators, and data specialists from across the country for an immersive look into the future of machining.

Whether you’re a graduate student learning about the foundations of AS9100 or ISO 9001, or a business leader looking to strengthen your organization’s quality practices, understanding the seven principles of quality management is essential. At AQC, we help companies turn these principles into action, ensuring compliance, consistency, and confidence across every level of their operations.