.png)
Why Organizations Use AS9100 — and the Benefits It Brings
- Jules Martinez
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
The AS9100 Standards are more than a certification; it’s a tool for building reliable, consistent, and safe aerospace products. Key benefits include:
1. Increased Customer Confidence
Aerospace customers know that AS9100-certified suppliers follow industry best practices. Certification demonstrates professionalism, maturity, and reliability.
2. Access to New Markets
Many aerospace primes and Tier 1 suppliers require AS9100 certification. Without it, companies are excluded from major contracts.
3. Enhanced Risk Management
AS9100’s emphasis on risk ensures that organizations plan ahead, identify potential failures, mitigate hazards, and protect product safety.
4. Stronger Supplier Control
Supplier performance is critical in aerospace. AS9100 provides a structure for evaluating, monitoring, and approving suppliers to avoid downstream issues.
5. Better Traceability and Configuration Management
Traceability ensures companies always know which materials, parts, revisions, and process controls were used. This is essential for aerospace, where documentation and configuration errors can have severe consequences.
6. Continual Improvement
Like ISO 9001, AS9100 emphasizes ongoing improvement not just maintaining the status quo.
Key Clauses and Aerospace-Specific Additions
AS9100 follows the same high level structure as ISO 9001, but with additional aerospace clauses. Some of the most important include:
1. Product Safety (Clause 8.1.3)
Organizations must establish processes that ensure product safety throughout the entire product lifecycle. This includes identifying hazards, applying controls, and training employees on safe practices.
2. Prevention of Counterfeit Parts (Clause 8.1.4)
Companies must have processes to detect, prevent, and control the use of counterfeit or unapproved parts. This includes supplier verification, traceability, and inspection methods.
3. Configuration Management (Clause 8.1.2)
Configuration management ensures that the correct product version, revision, and technical data are always used. This avoids mix-ups that can compromise performance or safety.
4. Risk Management (Clauses 6.1 and 8.1.1)
Aerospace requires advanced risk planning: identifying potential issues, assessing impact, implementing controls, and monitoring effectiveness.
5. Special Process Validation (Clause 8.5.1)
Special processes (like welding, heat treating, plating, bonding) must be tightly controlled because their outputs cannot always be fully verified through inspection alone.
6. Supplier Performance and Control (Clause 8.4)
Organizations must evaluate supplier risk, performance, capability, and compliance. This clause ensures stability across the entire aerospace supply chain.
7. Human Factors (Clause 7.1.4)
AS9100 requires consideration of human performance fatigue, stress, distraction, communication challenges, and more to minimize errors.
Together, these clauses form a robust quality and safety system designed specifically for aerospace’s demanding environment.
How AQC Supports AS9100 Implementation and Compliance
At AQC, we help machine shops, engineering firms, and aerospace manufacturers implement practical AS9100 compliant systems. Our services include:
Development of AS9100 Quality Manuals and Documentation
Internal Audit Services and Auditor Training
Gap Assessments and Readiness Reviews
Supplier Evaluation and Control Process Support
Corrective Action Guidance and Root Cause Training
Configuration Management System Development
We take a hands on, personalized approach to ensure your documentation is clear, your processes are effective, and your organization is fully prepared for certification.
If your organization is ready to strengthen its aerospace compliance or pursue AS9100 certification, AQC is here to help. Visit aqc-global.com to schedule a free consultation.