I'm responsible for determing/implementing/maintaining the QMS at my company. It is a new position for me and the company. I'm trying to determine which Standard is the most appropriate for my company and its customers. My company designs and builds custom gages and fixtures for the aerospace and power generation industries (mainly). One of our largest aerospace customers is flowing down compliance with AS9003. I've heard conflicting information about the long-term viability of this Standard, but even more importantly, I'm concerned that this may not best serve the bigger picture for my company's quality and continuous improvement objectives, as well as all or most of our customer base. We are a small firm, and I want to responsibly determine and implement the system that not only satisfies our internal/external customers today, but can also live/breath/grow with us. Conversely, I don't want to handcuff us to something "more than" we need. If anyone can offer their professional insight/opinion/advice, I'd certainly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

I'm responsible for determing/implementing/maintaining the QMS at my company. It is a new position for me and the company. I'm trying to determine which Standard is the most appropriate for my company and its customers. My company designs and builds custom gages and fixtures for the aerospace and power generation industries (mainly). One of our largest aerospace customers is flowing down compliance with AS9003. I've heard conflicting information about the long-term viability of this Standard, but even more importantly, I'm concerned that this may not best serve the bigger picture for my company's quality and continuous improvement objectives, as well as all or most of our customer base. We are a small firm, and I want to responsibly determine and implement the system that not only satisfies our internal/external customers today, but can also live/breath/grow with us. Conversely, I don't want to handcuff us to something "more than" we need. If anyone can offer their professional insight/opinion/advice, I'd certainly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

If it being flowed down by your customers you may not have a choice in the matter.

If I was in your position, I would look at AS9100C to implement in your facility. It also encompasses ISO9001:200x therefore your Registration (if so chosen to do) would also reflect ISO9001:200x.

I am not really familiar with AS9003, so I would guess if your system meets AS9100C/ISO9001:200x, it would meet or exceed AS9003, in my opinion.

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I appreciate your reply Coury. I forgot to mention that the one customer cited in my original post would be fine if we certified to AS9100.

:thanks:

I appreciate your reply Coury. I forgot to mention that the one customer cited in my original post would be fine if we certified to AS9100.

Than I would think about going to AS9100C/ISO9001:200x. You will need to determine which exclusions (Section 7 only) would apply to your company and be able to justify those exclusions.

AS9003 is based on the old ISO 9003:1994. There are several reasons I wouldn't choose AS9003:

1) It is based on an obsolete "less than ISO 9001" standard.

2) It will only be recognized by a few select companies that still encourage its use such as (if I recall correctly) NASA and Lockheed Martin.

3) The newer standards are more focused on continual improvement and your processes. They should (if used properly) help your organization to be more effective and achieve your business objectives.

My company designs and builds custom gages and fixtures for the aerospace and power generation industries (mainly). SNIP. If anyone can offer their professional insight/opinion/advice, I'd certainly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.Based on what you describe, I would go for ISO 9001.AS9003 is based on the old ISO 9003:1994. There are several reasons I wouldn't choose AS9003:

1) It is based on an obsolete "less than ISO 9001" standard.

2) It will only be recognized by a few select companies that still encourage its use such as (if I recall correctly) NASA and Lockheed Martin.

3) The newer standards are more focused on continual improvement and your processes. They should (if used properly) help your organization to be more effective and achieve your business objectives.AS9003 is subject of discussion in the upcoming AAQG meeting in Portland (http://www.sae.org/servlets/works/upcomingmeetingResources.do?eventGenNum=3535), OR, in March.

As mentioned elsewhere, we had a group revising AS9003 last year. The group was led by NASA and I was involved in a couple of the virtual meetings. Last time I enquired, they were still moving forward with the AS9003 revision, but the IAQG has decided from the beginning that AS9003 would not be a part of the ICOP Scheme.