The AS9100 certification is a critical quality management standard specifically designed for the aerospace industry. Outside of government, defence and large aviation organisations, AS9100 is not mandatory in Australia. However, it is often necessary if you want to supply products or services to major players, such as government contractors or large manufacturers.
Designed with the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), the AS9100 certification is the peak standard for you to signal your stringent safety, quality, and operational standards that are used in aerospace production and services. Securing this certification is extremely valuable for two key reasons:
- Maintaining compliance
- Improving business opportunities within this highly regulated industry.
The certification audit process is a significant part of this journey. Preparation is key to reaching a successful outcome and minimising your certification stress.
Here are seven practical tips to help your business get ready for an AS9100 certification audit:
1. Familiarise yourself with AS9100 requirements
The AS9100 standard covers a broad range of quality management system (QMS) requirements explicitly tailored for the aerospace sector. To begin preparing, review the standard thoroughly and ensure that your team understands the key clauses, particularly those that apply directly to your operations.
It’s crucial to focus on areas like quality objectives, risk-based thinking, and process control, which are often heavily scrutinised. A good practice is to break down the standard into manageable sections and review each with your team. For example:
Here’s how you could divide it:
- Quality Management System (QMS) Structure
- Clause 4: Context of the organisation
- Clause 5: Leadership
- Planning and Risk Management
- Clause 6: Planning
- Clause 8: Operation
- Support Functions
- Clause 7: Support
- Performance Evaluation
- Clause 9: Performance evaluation
- Improvement
- Clause 10: Improvement
2. Perform a comprehensive internal audit
A thorough internal audit is one of the best ways to ensure your organisation complies with the AS9100 standard. This internal review should cover all aspects of your operations, from documentation and processes to risk management and customer satisfaction metrics.
Use a checklist, such as the breakdown above, following the AS9100 requirements to guide your audit. Be sure to focus on identifying gaps in compliance and areas where your processes may need to be strengthened.
3. Update and organise documentation
Accurate and up-to-date documentation is a cornerstone of the AS9100 certification. Review all your controlled documents, including policies, procedures, and records, to ensure they reflect current practices and comply with the standard.
Ensure you have a robust version control system to track any changes made to your documentation. Proper documentation helps you to maintain consistency, avoid discrepancies and streamline the audit process.
4. Train and involve employees
The success of your AS9100 certification audit depends on how well your team understands and implements the standard. Schedule regular training sessions to ensure employees are familiar with their roles and responsibilities regarding compliance. Focus on areas like risk management, quality objectives, and process controls.
Incorporating real-world examples during training can make the material more relatable and help employees apply their knowledge practically.
5. Strengthen risk management processes
AS9100 places significant emphasis on risk-based thinking. It’s important to review your risk management processes and ensure they are robust enough to identify, analyse, and mitigate potential risks. This includes looking at how nonconformities are managed, corrective actions are taken, and ensuring there’s a record of how issues were resolved.
Strengthening your risk management practices demonstrates to auditors that your organisation is proactive in identifying and mitigating risks, which is a key component of AS9100 compliance.
6. Prepare for a management review
Management involvement is a vital part of the AS9100 certification process. Conduct a thorough management review to ensure that your leadership is engaged and aware of the organisation’s quality objectives, resource management, and overall performance.
During the review, focus on areas like customer feedback, audit results, and the effectiveness of your quality management system.
7. Practice the audit process
Preparation is key to staying calm and focused during the actual audit. To build confidence, conduct mock audits or hold Q&A sessions with your team to simulate the audit experience. This helps employees become more familiar with the types of questions they might face and how best to present evidence of compliance.
During these practice sessions, focus on both technical and process-oriented inquiries, ensuring that your team can articulate how their roles contribute to overall compliance.
For expert guidance and support throughout your AS9100 certification journey, contact our AS9100 quality certification consultants. They can help develop and maintain a well-implemented system tailored to your business needs, ensuring you meet the required compliance standards.