Transition Audits - AS9100 Revision D

[howste]

They appear to be struggling to perform all of the audits needed. We struggled to even get our first surveillance audit scheduled for this year (we're on a 6-month cycle). Instead we ended up doing the full surveillance audits for the year together in May once they found an auditor with availability, so we now have until January for our transition audit.

Here's to hoping that by then the situation has improved, they have all of their auditors certified and available. Not holding my breath tho'. :

As of today, when all AS9100 audits must be conducted to Rev D, only about 72% of the auditors who were certified to audit to Rev C have been certified to audit to Rev D.

It would be hard for any group to lose more than a quarter of its work force and still do the same amount of quality work.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

only about 72% of the auditors who were certified to audit to Rev C have been certified to audit to Rev D.

As the ICOP Scheme is a major component of the IAQG entity and authenticated AEA's and AA's are one of the critical resources for the scheme to operate, one should hope that the IAQG is trying to understand what's behind this concerning statistic.

In my opinion, ALL of the stakeholders in the scheme are partially responsible for this situation.

 

[Coury Ferguson]

As of today, when all AS9100 audits must be conducted to Rev D, only about 72% of the auditors who were certified to audit to Rev C have been certified to audit to Rev D.

It would be hard for any group to lose more than a quarter of its work force and still do the same amount of quality work.

What are the Statistics regarding the Aerospace Auditors (Rev B) during the required AATT to Rev C?

Many Aerospace Auditors didn't bother with the AATT or attempted to pass and didn't. I wonder if they are close to the same. It wouldn't surprise me.

 

[howste]

What are the Statistics regarding the Aerospace Auditors (Rev B) during the required AATT to Rev C?

Many Aerospace Auditors didn't bother with the AATT or attempted to pass and didn't. I wonder if they are close to the same. It wouldn't surprise me.

I'm not sure. I wasn't looking at the data back then. It's easy now to look at the numbers in the OASIS database.

Anecdotal evidence tells me that those who are considering retirement have to commit to a few more years or end it now. The auditor pool tends to have a high percentage of "mature" auditors in it.

 

[nagelbh]

The auditor who made time to get our Rev C surveillance done for us has chosen to retire for example rather than get certified to audit to D.

Anecdote not data, of course...

 

[sunnycosta]

I have 3 questions:
1)I cannot understand what is "product obsolesence" mentioned in Clause 8.1.
2)Can someone provide me a template of work transfer form with risks?
3)What is meant by ethical behaviour in 7.3?

 

[Sidney Vianna]

2)Can someone provide me a template of work transfer form with risks?

Look in the IAQG SCMH Sections 7.1.3 and 7.1.4

 

[howste]

...only about 72% of the auditors who were certified to audit to Rev C have been certified to audit to Rev D.

Good news! Since I posted that statistic there has been a .005% increase in auditors qualified for Rev D!

 

[howste]

1)I cannot understand what is "product obsolesence" mentioned in Clause 8.1.

Product obsolescence has to do with components or products that are no longer being manufactured or used. This can be particularly troublesome in electronic designs, for example.

If a new design is created based on existing components that are near end-of-life from the manufacturer, then supply shortages will need to be mitigated. This could require an expensive last-time buy of a large quantity of parts to ensure that the design can be produced for as long as needed.

If the supply is running out, then equivalent substitute parts will need to be identified or the design will need to be modified to do without them. This parts shortage sometimes leads to counterfeit parts being introduced into the supply chain by unethical companies to make fraudulent profit because of the demand for the vanishing supplies.

Counterfeit parts avoidance procedures should be part of the actions taken to mitigate product obsolescence. "During 2008, it was estimated that 17% of Electronic Components purchased by the Pentagon and its contractors were Counterfeit or otherwise illegal" - Robert P Ernst, Naval Air Systems Command’s Aging Aircraft Program. Buying only from original manufacturers and their authorized distributors is standard practice in the AS&D industry because of this.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Product obsolescence has to do with components or products that are no longer being manufactured or used. This can be particularly troublesome in electronic designs, for example.

I once heard that during the final years of the Space Shuttle program, NASA had to "harvest" electronic componentry from equipment that was being displayed in museums around the country in order to keep the fleet of shuttles flying. Don't know if this tale was true or not, but imagine how much confidence that would instill in the astronauts flying the craft...