What are AS 9100 and ISO 9001, Why Are They Important, and How Are They Different?

Q&A with Americase’s Derrick Cunningham, Director of Innovation and Engineering and Chaz Cleveland, Director of Operations

Question 1: What are AS9100 and ISO 9001, how are they different from one another, and how do they differ from other quality management standards?

ISO 9001 and AS9100 build upon each other. ISO 9001 is a foundational quality management standard that many manufacturers can follow, regardless of what they are producing. It acts as a broad framework that applies across industries.

On the other hand, AS9100 is specifically tailored for the aerospace industry. The "AS" stands for aerospace, and the standard focuses on critical components used in aircraft and flight vehicles. This is because the aerospace sector requires higher levels of protection and durability due to the severe consequences of failure, such as loss of life or significant property damage.

AS9100 requires more stringent controls and longer file retention compared to ISO 9001. In essence, while ISO 9001 provides a global standard for quality management, AS9100 adds industry-specific requirements to address the unique challenges of aerospace manufacturing.

To further clarify, both ISO 9001 and AS9100 are quality management systems that emphasize a process-based approach to establishing business processes and ensuring customer satisfaction. ISO 9001 sets the global standard, offering a framework for meeting customer and regulatory requirements. AS9100, however, builds on this framework, introducing additional criteria specific to the aerospace industry.

Question 2: Why is AS9100 certification critical for companies in the aerospace and defense industries?

AS9100 certification is vital for companies in the aerospace and defense industries because it demonstrates the next level of quality and reliability. These industries operate under higher stakes, where failure can lead to loss of life, major property damage, and broader public impact.
Think of ISO 9001 as the foundation or the “cake,” and AS9100 as the “icing” that adds stability and appeal. Companies in these industries seek manufacturing partners with AS9100 certification as an assurance of their commitment to quality and safety.

Having AS9100 certification provides an additional safety net, proving that a manufacturer can meet the stringent requirements of aerospace and defense clients. While ISO 9001 applies universally to any industry, AS9100 addresses the specific demands of aerospace, offering an extra layer of confidence for manufacturers and their customers.

Question 3: What are the main benefits of AS9100 certification for companies and their clients?

AS9100 is designed to address the complexity, safety, and regulatory demands of the aerospace industry. Certification offers several significant benefits, such as streamlined supplier evaluation and simplified qualification process.

Before AS standards, companies had to visit partner shops to assess their capabilities. Now, clients can eliminate manufacturers without AS9100 certification, reducing time spent on qualification processes. Essentially, lack of AS certification disqualifies many manufacturers which narrows down the list of potential partners to those that are certified, saving the customer significant time and resources.

Enhanced safety and reliability is another benefit - AS9100 focuses on ensuring the safety and dependability of products used in the aerospace and defense industries. This is critical given the high stakes of these sectors.

AS9100 certification benefits both manufacturers and their customers by ensuring compliance with rigorous standards, promoting safety, and fostering trust in the supply chain. It guarantees that aerospace products meet the industry’s exacting standards for reliability and performance.