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AS 9100 Frequently Asked Questions

(Note: Please read this FAQ in conjunction with the ISO 9001:2000 FAQ)

What is the AS 9100 Quality Management Standard?
AS9100 is the quality management system (QMS) standard specific to the aerospace industry. The current version, AS9100 Rev B published in 2004, includes the ISO 9001:2000 standard verbatim and adds supplementary requirements that apply to the aerospace industry.

These supplementary requirements emphasize areas that impact on process and service safety, quality and reliability for aerospace products. It is designed to meet the complex and unique demands of the aerospace industry, from commercial aviation to defense and include several additional requirements to ISO 9001 that participating aerospace OEM companies felt were necessary to clearly define their expectations for aerospace suppliers.

The requirements within AS9100 are complementary to contractual and applicable regulations. Those implementing a QMS conforming to AS9100 must ensure that the specific requirements of their customers, country regulatory agencies (such as the FAA and the JAA) and local, state and national laws are also referenced within the system's documentation.

First published in May 1997 by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) as AS9000, the AS standard has evolved to AS9100:2004 Rev. B and is recognized by all major Aerospace OEMs. It combines and harmonizes requirements defined by the SAE in the Americas and the European Association of Aerospace Industries in Europe,

The aircraft and aerospace industries have recognized AS9100 as a means for continually improving quality and on-time delivery within their supply chain. Most of the major aircraft engine manufacturers, such as General Electric's Aircraft Engine division (GEAE), Boeing, Rolls-Royce Allison and Pratt & Whitney, are requiring their suppliers to be certified to AS9100.

What are the AS 9100 family of standards?
The AS 9100 QMS family comprise the following three standards:

1. AS 9100 Quality Management System - Aerospace requirements - for details see above

2. AS 9110 - Quality Maintenance Systems - Aerospace - Requirements for Maintenance Organizations. AS9110 focuses on the maintenance, repair and overhaul aspects of the aerospace business. Aircraft are designed to perform for 50 years or longer, but properly maintaining them is essential for the product's total life cycle and continued safe operation. AS9110 is used to complement the expanded use of ISO 9001 by major aerospace repair stations worldwide.

3. AS 9120 - Quality Management Systems - Aerospace - Requirements for Stockist Distributors. AS9120 focuses on organizations that deal directly with OEMs and accumulate aerospace materials and products for resale. These distributors or stockists while providing a useful service, can affect product performance if they fail to handle parts and materials correctly or lose a part's chain of custody from the OEM to the customer.

AS9120 complements AS9100 and may be used by OEMs or others in the aerospace supply chain. This standard applies to "pass through" distributors (i.e., businesses that accumulate and distribute parts and materials rather than add value or work on the products themselves). Value-added distributors are subject to the appropriate requirements of AS9100.

4.In addition, there are a number of supplementary documents and tools that are referenced for use in conjunction with these primary standards. These documents amplify specific AS 9100 clause requirements and in some case prescribe a defined methodology for addressing it. Please refer to the International Aerospace Quality Group website for details -

Who does AS 9100 apply to?
AS9100 certification can be used throughout the entire aerospace supply chain including the design and manufacture of airport and airline operations, replacement parts, supply and maintenance, cargo handling, overhaul and repair depots and flight operations.

What are the benefits of certification to the AS9100 standard?
AS 9100 certification provides the following benefits:

Provides access to the best practices of the aerospace industry
Demonstrates your commitment to deliver quality products and services to your customers
Brings your quality management system to level with the global standard adopted by the aerospace industry
Improves your new market / new customer prospects on a worldwide basis
Reduces multiple expectations and number of 2nd and 3rd party audits
Creates independent feedback to foster continual improvement
Improved customer satisfaction
Reduces organizational waste, inefficiencies, and defects
Facilitates continual improvement in business processes and customer satisfaction
Improves process consistency and stability