A Guide to Having Your Business AS9100 Certified as Soon as Possible (Demo)

The AS9100 standard is the quality management system (QMS) standard for the aviation, space, and defense industries. Its current version—AS9100 Rev C—is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001, adding supplementary requirements specific to the three aforementioned industries. However, despite this connection, the AS9100 standard is governed by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) of SAE International (formerly Society of Automotive Engineers) and not the ISO. For a company to obtain AS9100 certification, it needs to offer proof that its operations satisfy the standard’s QMS requirements and will continue to do so. This type of certification is becoming more commonly required, so if you don’t have it yet, you’ll need to acquire it soon if you want your company to remain competitive in your particular industry. An article from eHow.com offers some tips on how to get AS9100-certified fast. First, research and identify the QMS standards for your specific product and purchase the AS9100 workbook. These sources will tell you what you need to do to satisfy the QMS requirements for your product. Second, set a timetable for certification to motivate you to obtain AS9100 certification more rapidly. You then need to divide this timetable into different schedules that you need to strictly adhere to. Six months is a realistic timetable for certification, the article advises. The third step is to appoint a lead auditor for the process. This person will be the one responsible for establishing, scheduling, and completing the goals for the certification. Thus, he will need to have experience with AS9100 certification procedures. If you don’t have an employee with this qualification, consider outsourcing the job to an independent AS9100 certification company. Fourth, schedule a meeting with an AS9100 certification registrar like those from the International Standards Authority, Inc. who can review your company and its operations to determine if it is entitled to certification. After the registrar’s review, begin completing AS9100 tasks, such as the implementation of quality assurance checks, record keeping, detailed inspections, and training of employees, among other things. Once the tasks are completed, schedule an initial qualification review with the registrar. Depending on his recommendations, you may need to tweak your system before you can obtain certification. Once that’s accomplished, schedule a final certification review. This will determine if your company’s QMS standards have satisfied all AS9100 requirements. An AS9100 certification requires a substantial commitment of time and resources. With the tips provided above, and your full commitment to the process, you can ensure that your AS9100 certification endeavors will go along as planned.