From ISO 9001 to AS 9100

[zaboss]

Hi,

I have a client who has ISO 9001 implemented. It is a company that sells parts to airline companies and jet repair services. They learned about the AS 9100 standard and asked me if is worth implement it. I am not very familiar with AS 9100 so I appreciate any indication. Thank you,

Cristian Banu

[Duke Okes]

Whether or not it is worth it will depend on 1) whether is it required by any current customers, 2) what impact it might have on their ability to pick up new business, 3) how much they'd have to do above 9001 (which means they need to understand 9100 and assess the delta) and 4) how much it would cost for the conversion.

[D.Scott]

In Reply to Parent Post by zaboss

Hi,

I have a client who has ISO 9001 implemented. It is a company that sells parts to airline companies and jet repair services. They learned about the AS 9100 standard and asked me if is worth implement it. I am not very familiar with AS 9100 so I appreciate any indication. Thank you,

Cristian Banu

Welcome to the Cove.

All the elements of ISO 9001:2000 are contained within AS9100 B. There is a lot more added by the aerospace industry so I wouldn't venture to say it was an easy or inexpensive transition. Your client has a good start by being ISO 9001.

Most aerospace customers I know require AS9100 certification. There are a lot of issues that intertwine within the aerospace supply chain and it is found that requiring certification is generally pushed down the chain.

Is it worth it? I certainly think it is. I like the aerospace structure. I think it develops more of a partnership than does the TS 16949 automotive standard and defines a solid quality base for use in any industry. I like the instilled disciplines and the logic used in process development and management.

The aerospace industry is becoming a big part of our corporate plan as it will for many others. If your client is serious about becoming part of this growing industry I would suggest they step up and develop an AS9100 system. They will find their customers (the big dollar ones anyway) will soon require it.

Good luck.

Dave

[zaboss]

About the cost, for sure it would be much higher even just for the fact that none of the local certification bodies are qualified to certify such a system so they'll have to call in a foreign body. But for sure they will have an important asset as they will be the first Romanian parts suplier certified (as far as we know...). ISO 9001 is implemented for a while now - 2006 - but they were not certified until recently.

Thanks D.Scott. Interesting idea that the AS 9100 is pushed down by the industry. Here (in Romania) the same thing is happening with ISO 9001, which is mandatory if a company wants to hope for contracts with the State (at any level).

At this moment, I would say it would be much easier for them to implement it is as they are small - that would be another discussion, weather is easy to implement a Management System in a small company or in a large one...