Novice quality manager trying to get AS9100 certification

[STEVEDAWG]

I recently fell into my current position, quality manager for a medium sized job shop in california. This shop has been iso9001 "compliant", but never certified, meaning that one of our customers audited our system a yr back, and gave us their approval. However, the manual that was written was mostly for show. Now we are being required to be AS9100 certified within the next year, and this task is on my shoulders. I've been studying like crazy, trying to educate myself in exactly what the standards are, and I'm hoping that someone out there might take pity on me, and point me in the right direction. I've checked out quite a few sites and books, they all seem to say the same thing, but never say enough.

I would very much like to read through a well written quality manual from a certified shop similar to ours. And as long as I'm wishing, I'd like a Ferrari and a couple of supermodels out by the pool.........

[Jennifer Kirley]

Welcome to The Cove, Stevedawg!

Your request hints of a fairly common misunderstanding about quality manuals and ISO registration. AS9100 is said to be closely related to ISO.

Some people have this idea that the quality manual tells the organization what it should be doing to be registered to the standard. And for some organizations it does just that. It gives details that are specific enough to serve as trap doors in an audit.

What often happens then is that the organization doesn't follow its manual; there are sometimes people who feel uncomfortable with it, say it is confining or tells them their business. For these organizations, registering is very difficult or they find it hard to "recertify" unless their registrar is too easy on them (to put it nicely).

A quality manual is actually only supposed to sketch the Quality Management System (QMS). It outlines the system of processes an organization does that align with the principles and adhere to the "shalls" in the standard.

The quality manual is the skeleton. It references processes and their ownership. See this example: *** DEAD LINK REMOVED ***

Procedures describe the processes in more detail; they reference necessary work instructions that contain specific details or refer to specifications that provide the details (like repair manuals) because they might change too frequently for you to want to record these specifics on your own records.

I don't know how deeply your customer looked into what you did when you were acknowledged compliant, but I suspect you are doing well enough for them to have been satisfied this long so it might just be a matter of describing what you do that supports your compliance to the standard.

I hope this helps!

[ralphsulser]

STEVEDAWG, I would suggest you get out to a Lead Auditor course soon.
One that is recognized by an accrediting agency. You will learn fast and get to meet others in the same or similar situation. There are a lot of training companies avaialble. I went to Excel Partnerships and it was a good one. Not pushing them, just my experience.

[STEVEDAWG]

Many thanks for both of your replies. Jennifers advise and link clarified quite a few questions. Ralphsusler's advise on getting into a training course was an answer to another question I didnt voice, that is "Are these courses value added?" . I will be following the advise of both you kind souls.

[Jennifer Kirley]

Originally Posted by ralphsulser

STEVEDAWG, I would suggest you get out to a Lead Auditor course soon.
One that is recognized by an accrediting agency. You will learn fast and get to meet others in the same or similar situation. There are a lot of training companies avaialble. I went to Excel Partnerships and it was a good one. Not pushing them, just my experience.

This is excellent advice, which I didn't think of though I should have.

I attended a week-long EMS Lead Auditor training by Applied Quality Systems (AQS Management Systems Inc.) and was very pleased with it.

The course didn't just teach auditing, it did a good introduction to the standard, practices, etc. If you are new to quality management and must get registered, I would press for such a course, at least for starters.

[STEVEDAWG]

now to convince the boss to bust out the company checkbook....

[Sidney Vianna]

Hi Steve, if you want, I would be happy to stop by and talk to you and your boss about AS9100, some do's and dont's, ways forward, answer questions, etc.... I have been involved in the AAQG Group since 2001 and I participate in some of the groups developing/revising the family of AQMS Standards. Cypress is just around the corner from me. Actually, early October, there will be a Boeing IDS supplier workshop in Huntington Beach. I will be participating as a panelist. Maybe we can get you in...

[STEVEDAWG]

Sidney,

What a great offer. I'd very much appreciate a visit. I'd also like to get more info on the Boeing workshop.