posted 14 November 1999 05:00 PM               

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>From the SAE website: http://www.sae.org

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) will publish AS9100 Quality Systems - Aerospace - Model for Quality Assurance in Design, Development, Production, Installation, and Servicing, the first international aerospace quality systems standard. AS9100 is technically equivalent to the European version, published by The European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) as prEN9100.

The ISO Aerospace Technical Committee 20, Working Group 11, in association with the American Aerospace Quality Group (AAQG) in the U.S. and AECMA in Europe, and other countries such as Japan, China, Mexico, and Brazil, developed the quality systems standard for use by Aerospace companies worldwide.

AS9100 was developed using the ISO9001, AS9000, and EN9000-1, and builds upon their requirements to produce a globally-harmonized standard that meets the requirements of aerospace companies worldwide. The first standard available for use across the global aerospace community, AS9100 adds the additional requirements necessary to address both civil and military aviation and aerospace needs.

Based on industry need, major changes to the AS9000 document have been made to accommodate the changes in the industry and worldwide focus on quality and safety. Significant changes and/or additions have been made in the following areas: configuration management; reliability, maintainability, and safety; process control; purchasing; design verification and validation testing; first article inspection; corrective action; inspection and test status; servicing, delivery, investigation, and control of technical documentation; and expansion of the internal audit requirement.

With major industry manufacturers on board, companies at all levels in the aerospace supply chain will need this document to keep up with the worldwide changes in standardization and stay competitive in the industry.

AS9100 will be available November 1, 1999. Orders can be taken by calling SAE at 724/776-4970; fax: 724/776-0790; email: publications@sae.org

AS9100 supersedes the AS9000 Aerospace Basic Quality System Standard published in 1997. AS9000 is still available as well as the AS9000 Appendix 1 Audit Summary and Supplier Profile Instructions.

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