AS9100 Certification: Answering Your Top Questions

As a leading AS100 consulting firm with over 20 years of experience in quality management and certification, American Quality Management has guided countless organizations through the AS9100 certification process. Our extensive expertise and proven track record in the industry allow us to provide authoritative and trustworthy insights. In this article, we draw on our deep well of knowledge and firsthand experience to answer your top questions about AS9100 certification, ensuring you have the accurate and reliable information needed to achieve compliance and enhance your quality management system.

AS9100 represents the highest standards for quality management systems in the aviation, space, and defense industries. By attaining formal accreditation, organizations demonstrate their commitment to safety, reliability, and meeting customer requirements.

However, for companies new to the standard, questions naturally arise about the certification process, costs, timeframe, and more. In this article, we will dive into the top frequently asked questions to provide clarity as you pursue AS9100 registration.

What are the costs?

The major costs associated with gaining AS9100 fall into two buckets:

Internal Costs: These include expenses your organization incurs related to implementing the quality management system, training, added staff time, and any required upgrades to infrastructure or equipment to meet standards. Carefully scoping these internal costs is a key part of budgeting for the project.

External Costs: Registrar fees make up the external costs, including the audit time and auditor travel expenses. Initial certification audits generally take 2-5 days depending on the size of your organization. Surveillance audits are 1-3 days. Daily auditor fees range $1500-$3000 plus travel costs.

Factor in any consultant fees if external expertise is leveraged. Renewal cycles every 3 years incur similar external costs. Understanding these expenses allows you to build out a complete business case.

How long does it take to become certified?

The length of time to become certified depends primarily on the maturity of your existing quality system and the size of your organization. Companies new to formal quality standards can expect a 9-12 month process to implement and integrate an AS9100 system prior to certification.

For organizations already ISO 9001 certified, the transition timeframe is shorter since foundational elements are in place. Typically 6 months is sufficient to upgrade the system to meet additional AS9100 requirements.

The registration process adds 2-4 months for scheduling/undergoing the stage 1 and stage 2 audits and addressing any non-conformities. For large multi-site companies, allow extra time. Create a detailed project plan with the roadmap to certification.

What if we are already ISO 9001 certified?

Being ISO 9001 certified provides an advantage since AS9100 was built on the ISO 9001 framework with additional requirements specific to aviation, space and defense. Your organization already has foundational quality processes established that can be expanded and enhanced to meet AS9100.

A gap analysis is still required to identify areas needing improvement to reach full AS9100 conformance. Key additions will be in configuration management, risk management, project management and safety assurance. Leverage your ISO 9001 knowledge and focus efforts on the industry-specific components.

Does every site/location need to be certified?

For multi-site organizations, yes, every site/location within the scope of registration must get certified to AS9100. However, you can take a phased approach if desired by starting with one site or a subgroup of sites.

Ensure all sites contribute toward products/services covered within the scope of certification. Deploy knowledge gained from early certified sites across remaining locations. Review linkage documents to determine sites serving as feeders.

When do we need to recertify?

Initial AS9100 certification is valid for three years. To maintain registered status, organizations must undergo annual surveillance audits by their registrar to verify ongoing compliance to the standard. Any non-conformities identified during surveillance must be quickly addressed.

After three years, a full recertification audit of the management system is required to renew certification for another three-year cycle. Recertification audits are akin to the initial certification process. Disciplined maintenance of the quality system through internal audits and management reviews prepares companies to smoothly pass recertification audits.

Who Needs AS9100 Certification?

This exacting standard was designed for the aerospace, aviation, and defense spheres. Key organizations that pursue AS9100 certification include:

• OEMs like Boeing, Airbus, Northrop Grumman
• Tier 1, 2, 3+ suppliers in the supply chain
• MROs (maintenance, repair, overhaul companies)
• Production plants, warehouses, distribution centers
• Testing facilities, engineering service providers
• Raw material and components suppliers
• Electronics manufacturers

Any organization that designs, produces, tests, or provides services/components supporting these industries will benefit from AS9100 registration. It signifies a commitment to the highest standards.

Realize the Benefits of Certification

While the certification process takes dedication, the payoff is immense in terms of meeting customer requirements, preventing issues, and sparking continual improvement. By proactively addressing common questions, organizations can make certification a reality and a competitive differentiator.