Veteran Quality Manager new to FAA Regulations - Help!

[SLSHappy]

Hello to All! Let me first say that I truly appreciate this forum 100 times over! It's great being able to read thoughts/suggestions/questions specific to the quality field. I am the new Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager of a supplier to the aerospace industry. We manufacture telephones and install them on airplanes. We are compliant to FAA 14 CFR Part 21. I have six years experience with ISO and have lead 2 companies to ISO registration/certification. I've attended an AS9100 Lead Auditor course (1 long brutal week) and found that I shouldn't have a problem understanding the additional requirements from ISO 9001. What I am in desperate need of assistance in finding is some type of course that will get me familiar with all (O.K. that's asking a bit much - at least some) of the FAA lingo/acronyms! I need to be able to blend my quality expertise with at least understanding our customers as well as the FAA veterans within my company. So long story - short question: Does anyone have any suggestions for training for quality professional seeking an understanding of FAA Part 21?

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by SLSHappy

Hello to All! Let me first say that I truly appreciate this forum 100 times over! It's great being able to read thoughts/suggestions/questions specific to the quality field. I am the new Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager of a supplier to the aerospace industry. We manufacture telephones and install them on airplanes. We are compliant to FAA 14 CFR Part 21. I have six years experience with ISO and have lead 2 companies to ISO registration/certification. I've attended an AS9100 Lead Auditor course (1 long brutal week) and found that I shouldn't have a problem understanding the additional requirements from ISO 9001. What I am in desperate need of assistance in finding is some type of course that will get me familiar with all (O.K. that's asking a bit much - at least some) of the FAA lingo/acronyms! I need to be able to blend my quality expertise with at least understanding our customers as well as the FAA veterans within my company. So long story - short question: Does anyone have any suggestions for training for quality professional seeking an understanding of FAA Part 21?

You have my complete sympathy regarding the aerospace and general aviation industry use of acronyms. The worst part for me was that most of the folks I dealt with had no clue to the words behind the acronym! They may have had a narrow understanding in their own company/agency of some definition, not the exact words which matched the acronym, and I found myself continually asking them to explain what they meant. I did ultimately carry around a little address book (alphabetized pages) in which I jotted down acronyms in alphabetical order [sort of, anyway] along with each meaning I came across. I suppose a Palm Pilot type of Personal Digital Assistant might have worked, too, but I had a nasty habit of dropping them and breaking them.

Just for FAR, I ran into all of these at one time or another as QM (Quality Manager) of a *PMA/PAH :
Federal Acquisition Regulation
Function(al) Area Requirement
Federal Aviation Regulation
Financial Accounting & Reporting
Fatal Accident Rate
False Alarm Ratio (weather forecasting)
Flight Acceptance Review
Federal Air Regulation

*PMA=Parts Manufacturer Approval (not Positive Mental Attitude!)
(I have a list of over 250 definitions for PMA)
PAH=Parts Approval Holder

If you find a good method to get through the maze, let us know!

[Al Rosen]

Originally Posted by SLSHappy

Hello to All! Let me first say that I truly appreciate this forum 100 times over! It's great being able to read thoughts/suggestions/questions specific to the quality field. I am the new Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager of a supplier to the aerospace industry. We manufacture telephones and install them on airplanes. We are compliant to FAA 14 CFR Part 21. I have six years experience with ISO and have lead 2 companies to ISO registration/certification. I've attended an AS9100 Lead Auditor course (1 long brutal week) and found that I shouldn't have a problem understanding the additional requirements from ISO 9001. What I am in desperate need of assistance in finding is some type of course that will get me familiar with all (O.K. that's asking a bit much - at least some) of the FAA lingo/acronyms! I need to be able to blend my quality expertise with at least understanding our customers as well as the FAA veterans within my company. So long story - short question: Does anyone have any suggestions for training for quality professional seeking an understanding of FAA Part 21?

Start with the regulation, especially sub part K regarding Parts Manufacturer Approval.

[BadgerMan]

You can make a career out of trying to become and stay knowledgeable with regard to FAA regulations. There is a designee notification system that sends notices of updates via e-mail. It can be pretty time consuming to stay current at times. The FAA does offer numerous training courses with different purposes in mind. I have been a designee for several years and attend yearly refresher training. However, I still feel like a babe in the woods on occasion when someone starts spouting acronyms. The Combined Maintenance & Manufacturing Initial PART 1 Seminar should give you the best basic overview of PAH (production approval holder) related regulations.

FAA Designee Information

Available training:
AFS-640 Designee Standardization Registration web site

[Bill Ryan]

While I can't be of any help with your question as I have no experience in the aviation industry (other than what I've read here) - I would like to welcome you to the "posting side" of the Cove

[SLSHappy]

Thank you! I appreciate everyone's suggestions / comments (and such quick turn around )!

[KimLoree]

I too am an FAA designee and attend a recurrent training session every 2 years. When I looked at the links provided by Badgerman, I was disappointed to see that the Part 1 initial seminar is now on line. When I first became a designee, you had to spend 5 days in Oaklahoma City for the initial training. The material was very dry, but the trainers made it a lot of fun. They all had stories to tell, which made the intensity of the training tolerable.
I see that part 2 of the training, "Designee standardization initial part 2" is still held in Oaklahoma City. If any of the old-timers are still around (many were close to retirement) it would be well worth it to make the trip for Part 2. Part 1, I believe (it's been a long time) focuses primarily on the documentation...which by the way includes how to find definitions and acronyms. So maybe that is all you would need.

Good Luck

[BadgerMan]

Originally Posted by KimLoree

I was disappointed to see that the Part 1 initial seminar is now on line. When I first became a designee, you had to spend 5 days in Oaklahoma City for the initial training. The material was very dry, but the trainers made it a lot of fun. They all had stories to tell, which made the intensity of the training tolerable.

Wow, I did not even notice that the part 1 seminar was an on-line deal. I too have fond memories of the week I spent in OKC. Much joking and laughing with the instructors, both during class and in the hotel bar afterward!

I spent three days in Spokane for my recurrent training last summer. I will be traveling to Memphis for my training this summer.