Combining 2 companies with separate AS9100D certificates!

[Tina Z.]

Hello,
We are a small shop and AS9100D certified and are about to buy another similar smaller company with a separate AS9100D certificate.
We are thinking of relocating all their machinery to our location. The scope of both certs are similar. Do you recommend that we also combine both certificates and expand the scope in our next re-certification audit? Expiry date of certificates are different.
or is it possible that we continue to use their certificate for products made by those machines/processes (in this scenario, should product C of C be under their name?)?

I know in the future having 2 certs mean double the audit costs, etc..., but at the moment, my question is if it is possible at all and if it makes sense.

Thanks..

 

[Michael_M]

It has been a while, but I believe it boils down to "What is the difference in scope?" If both scopes are the same or the purchasing company scope also encompasses everything the other company does, treat it like you have new customers and new equipment. It has been a while, but unless something has to change with the scope of the purchasing company to perform the work of the other company, nothing really changes. Just make sure you do your due diligence, incorporating all the customer requirements for the product required. Look into the other companies contracts, I assume you will have to notify the buyers of the change.

 

[DannyK]

There should be no problem to maintain two different certificates. The certificate for the company that is moving must be updated to the new address and the certification body will want to evaluate the impact of the move to a new location.

 

[Big Jim]

It is probably easier in the long run to bring them together with the same certification. It likely can be accomplished at the next audit. You should be able to easily reconcile the scope statement into one although a dual scope statement is also possible. You usually can even have both company names on the certificate if you feel that you want to keep both names for marketing reasons.

All of this is really a conversation for you and your certification body.

 

[Tina Z.]

It has been a while, but I believe it boils down to "What is the difference in scope?" If both scopes are the same or the purchasing company scope also encompasses everything the other company does, treat it like you have new customers and new equipment. It has been a while, but unless something has to change with the scope of the purchasing company to perform the work of the other company, nothing really changes. Just make sure you do your due diligence, incorporating all the customer requirements for the product required. Look into the other companies contracts, I assume you will have to notify the buyers of the change.

Thanks Michael! Scope are very similar, ours being more comprehensive. I agree it would be more reasonable to consider it as a new equipment.

 

[Tina Z.]

There should be no problem to maintain two different certificates. The certificate for the company that is moving must be updated to the new address and the certification body will want to evaluate the impact of the move to a new location.

Thanks Danny! in this case, what would be the logo on the C of C of the products?

 

[Tina Z.]

It is probably easier in the long run to bring them together with the same certification. It likely can be accomplished at the next audit. You should be able to easily reconcile the scope statement into one although a dual scope statement is also possible. You usually can even have both company names on the certificate if you feel that you want to keep both names for marketing reasons.

All of this is really a conversation for you and your certification body.

thank you!