If it’s Part of Something that Flies, it Needs to be AS9120 Certified (Demo)

In the world of parts and manufacturing, audits by certifying bodies are inevitable. This is to basically ensure that the products are made, distributed, and tracked according to industry quality standards. For the aerospace and defense industry, the audit is codenamed AS9120. Why all the fuss? Manufacturers can be held liable if a part they supplied malfunctions, and leads to a mishap which results in loss of life, as explained by law firm Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, and Goldman in a website article.

It is the responsibility of an aircraft maker or aircraft part manufacturer to ensure that the airplane or aircraft part it makes is of adequate design and free of defects. The manufacturer must take responsibility for any of its defective products or inadequate design if they cause harm to others.

For safety’s sake More than avoiding legal entanglements, the aviation industry wants to make sure that everything technical and mechanical that goes into the operation of an aircraft is deemed safe and reliable for the sake of the millions of workers in the commercial airline industry, including the military. Qualifying for AS9120 also impedes the proliferation of fake and defective parts. Certifying Bodies An aerospace parts manufacturer needs to sign up with any certifying body which is accredited by the government to award certification. In general, auditors have a specific period in which to inspect and evaluate the company’s quality management system (QMS), and then report their findings. Auditors will not coach or assist the company in ways to pass the audit. Findings An auditor’s report usually contains major findings, minor findings, and opportunities for improvement. Major findings refer to system failures and other things that greatly affect your company’s chances of earning AS9120 certification. Minor findings are issues in which corrective action needs to be taken. Lastly, opportunities for improvement are simply the auditor’s comments on how the system may be improved. Work together It is advisable to for companies to work with the auditors instead of treating them like adversaries. Establishing a good working relationship with them will make the audit process less stressful and will enable you to argue the findings, if needed. (Article Excerpt and Image from Aviation Safety, BaumHedlundLaw.com)