AS 9100 & AS 9120 Aviation, Space & Defence

AS 9100 and AS 9120 are specifically for Quality Management in the Aerospace and Defence Industries. AS 9100/AS 9120 Certification assists in achieving your aims & improving your business by helping you to manage & improve (rather than fire-fight).

Contact us today to also benefit from AS 9100/ AS 9120 certification and accreditation with increased operational efficiency. The requirements are well tested and help improve operations, productivity and profitability.

Click the following links for more specific information:

– What is AS 9100 & 9120 Certification?

– Benefits of AS 9100 & 9120 Certification

– Why you need it

– How to gain AS 9100 & 9120 Certification

– How much does it cost?

What is AS 9100 & AS 9120?

AS 9001 is for Manufacturers – emphasis on safe operation of parts. There are therefore significant efforts on reducing the risk of failure.

AS 9120 is for Stockist and Distributors – emphasis is on parts identification, traceability and documentation to reduce the risk of the bogus or counterfeit parts being used.

AS 9100 & AS 9120 is the Quality Management Standard based on ISO 9001 but specifically designed for the Aerospace & Defence Industries. It is not the only way of improving Quality. Over the last 100 years, there have been many different initiatives. Regrettably they have generally suffered from being:

• Internally driven by a few key personnel, who have limited access to Best Practice, (which is an additional benefit of external Assessors)
• Often oriented on Manufacturing. Over 85% of businesses are Service organisations in the Developed economies
• Often oriented large volume activities, which justify major investment to achieve improvements. Most organisation employee less than 20 persons
• Few agreed and documented methods covering all of the activities affecting Customer service
• Emphasis on operational improvements, with little consideration of Customer views
• Lack of external Assessment to provide a reality check and incentive for maintaining and improving

AS 9100/ AS 9120 addresses each of these limitations.

Organisations, to achieve AS 9100 or AS 9120 Certification, must be committed to a focused and systematic approach to business with fact-based decision making. They should be able to demonstrate both internally and to the external Assessor:

• Focus on Customers, with Customer requirements required to be fully understand and agreed.
• Management commitment to quality
• External independent UKAS accredited Assessment & on-going Surveillance visits at least yearly
• Involvement of trained, qualified and competent employees
• Processes approach and working systems are effective
• Applicable laws and regulations are complied with
• The necessary facilities and resources are provided
• Mutually beneficial Supplier relationships
• Problems are identified, investigated and corrected
• Important aspect of the business are monitored, reviewed and improved

Additionally any AS 9100/ AS 9120 Quality system is significantly more specific on the processes required and the records required for compliance, compared to ISO 9001 Quality systems.

Benefits of AS 9100 & AS 9120

1. Competitive
   a) AS 9100 & AS 9120 gives an externally checked confidence that your business is using a documented system to fulfill Customer requirements as well as being committed to improve. It also provides assurance to Customers that they can depend on consistent Quality of Service.
   b) Without AS 9100 & AS 9120 certification – you will be unable to supply certain products to Clients.
2. Operational
   AS 9100/ AS 9120 provides a systematic and integrated approach to business processes. It provides a clear structure of operating processes, with an emphasis on continual improvement of working systems as well as reducing errors, duplication, complaints and problems.

The evidence is that implementation costs are an investment with the return of cost advantages and other improvements gained by better methods, improved productivity, reduction of waste and better management control. Achieving successful Assessment and Certification also assists in retaining existing Customers and in gaining new Customers.

Why You Need it

Without AS 9100 or AS 9120 certification – you will be unable to supply certain services or products or Clients.

How to Gain AS 9100 or AS 9120 Certification

The quick answer is contact us, but there are common steps

• Review your operation compared to the Standard’s requirements & then document
• Implement, train & refine
• Check internally (Audit) & Management Review; Continue the refining
• External Check (UKAS accredited Assessor). When successful the Certification, then on-going yearly Surveillance visits

Three Format Options for your manual, documents, forms, process diagrams/ procedures and forms:

1. Text – the traditional approach but limits the opportunity for Business Improvement
2. Process Diagrams – assists with clearer understanding of processes and process interaction but often cumbersome to interlink electronically
3. Integrated Per4ma Business Model – Opportunity for Business Improvement, with your latest processes, Manual, documents, forms, tasks, indicator graphs and blogs.

Contact us today for the first steps to AS 9100 & AS 9120 Certification

How Much Does it Cost?

Invest in your future by improving your Business. We have options to suit your situation including

• Price Right -The Cost Effective Solution – if the Cost of achieving ISO is the critical factor. We personalise & document your Systems to comply with the relevant Standard & check compliance before UKAS accredited Assessment
• Manage Right – The Time Effective Solution – We save you Time. If you do not have the internal resources for the Documenting, Project Management & Training, we assist.
• Risk Right If you do not have the internal resources for the Documenting, Project Management, Admin & Training, we can assist as Deputy Quality Management Representative
• Support Right – Support as & when you want it – whether Onsite assistance & Auditing / Convert documentation /Additional Standards (i.e. ISO 13485, API Monogram & Q1, AS 9120 etc.) / Improvements / Refresh your System.
• Personalised Solution

Call us: (0)1635 595123
Email us: info@charter4.com
For a free discussion or quote or for further information about this certification standard.