AS9120 Consulting
AS9120 Consulting is a structured implementation service that prepares aerospace distributors and stockists to meet the requirements of the AS9120 Standard (current revision AS9120B, the 2016 edition, built on ISO 9001:2015 with added requirements for organizations that procure, stock, and resell aviation, space, and defense parts and materials). American Quality Management helps distributors build, deploy, and certify Quality Management Systems (QMS) that ensure traceability, prevent counterfeit parts, satisfy customer and regulatory requirements, and earn approved-distributor status with primes and OEMs.
Supporting industries including
Five Reasons to Invest in AS9120 Consulting
Primes and OEMs Require AS9120 Before Authorizing Distributors
Aerospace primes, OEMs, and operators require AS9120 certification before approving distributors or granting authorized- and preferred-supplier status. Professional AS9120 Consulting positions your distribution business to meet these mandatory qualification requirements and compete for supply-chain pass-through contracts.
Absent OASIS Visibility Keeps Your Distribution Business Hidden From Buyers
Aerospace buyers source approved distributors through the IAQG OASIS database, where only AS9120-certified organizations appear. AS9120 Consulting prepares your QMS for certification and registration so your company becomes visible and selectable to the buyers sourcing your parts and materials.
Traceability Gaps and Counterfeit-Part Exposure Signal QMS Deficiencies
Lost lot traceability, missing certificates of conformity, and counterfeit-part exposure indicate gaps in your QMS controls and corrective-action processes. AS9120 Consulting establishes traceability, counterfeit-part prevention, and corrective action (CAPA) that protect product integrity and document root-cause resolution.
Incomplete Records and Evidence of Conformity Create Compliance Risk
Distributors must maintain documented control over certificates of conformity, lot and batch records, split-lot traceability, and source documentation. Missing or incomplete records create compliance and product-safety risk. AS9120 Consulting establishes the documented procedures and records control AS9120B requires.
Failed or Marginal Third-Party Audits Require Systematic Correction
Certification audits often reveal systemic deficiencies that demand immediate resolution. Experienced AS9120 Consulting identifies audit nonconformities, determines root causes, and implements corrective actions before your certification attempt.
Map Your AS9120 Certification.
Distributors face a tighter scope than manufacturers, but the QMS still has to survive customer supplier audits. The first call maps the path before you commit.
Get Your AS9120 RoadmapWhat Our AS9120 Consulting Process Includes
Gap Analysis and Current-State Assessment
We begin with a complimentary gap analysis that assesses your current practices against each AS9120B requirement. This identifies which clauses your QMS already addresses and which require documentation, procedure development, or process redesign.
QMS Design and Distributor Documentation Development
Our AS9120 Consulting team develops a customized Quality Management System architecture — including your quality policy, quality objectives, and documented procedures — plus the distributor-specific documentation AS9120B demands: lot and batch traceability, certificate-of-conformity and evidence-of-conformity handling, counterfeit-part prevention, source and supplier control, and product-safety controls.
Internal Audit Planning, Training, and Execution
We prepare your internal audit team to assess your QMS against AS9120B and ISO 9001:2015 requirements. AS9120 Consulting includes auditor training, audit scheduling, and documented findings with corrective-action assignments and verification steps.
Management Review Preparation and Employee Training
Our AS9120 Consulting establishes management review meeting cadences, prepares performance-data packages, and trains your leadership and operational teams on their QMS roles and responsibilities.
Pre-Certification Readiness Assessment and Registrar Coordination
We conduct final readiness reviews, coordinate with ANAB-accredited certification bodies operating under the IAQG scheme, schedule your third-party audit, and provide direct support — including OASIS registration — through the certification process.
AS9120 Consulting Service Areas
Comprehensive support from initial planning to final certification.
AS9120 Consulting Core Services
- AS9120 Consulting and Implementation Planning
- AS9120B Certification Readiness Assessment
- Quality Management Systems (QMS) Design and Deployment
System Readiness Services
- QMS Gap Analysis and Compliance Assessment
- Nonconformity Identification and Resolution Management
- Documentation Review and Completeness Verification
AS9120 Implementation Support
- Quality Management System Setup and Configuration
- Distributor Standard Operating Procedure Creation
- Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Definition and Monitoring
- Documented Information Management and Records Control
Distributor Process Controls
- Lot and Batch Traceability and Split-Lot Control
- Certificate-of-Conformity and Evidence-of-Conformity Handling
- Counterfeit-Part Prevention and Product-Safety Controls
- Source, Supplier, and Procurement Control
Corrective and Preventive Action Management
- Nonconformance Investigation and Resolution
- Root Cause Analysis and Preventive Measures
- Verification and Closure Documentation
- Effectiveness Checks and Follow-Up Auditing
Compliance and Audit Support
- AS9120B Compliance Auditing
- Risk-Based Thinking Framework Application
- Internal Audit Program Development and Training
Third-Party Audit Preparation and Support
- Mock Audit Execution and Feedback
- Certification Body Coordination and Scheduling
- Remote and On-Site Audit Support Services
- IAQG OASIS Registration Support
Management Review and Leadership Alignment
- Scheduled Management Review Meeting Structure
- Performance Data Compilation and Presentation
- Quality Objectives Definition and Monitoring
- Executive Stakeholder Training and Engagement
Continuous Improvement Programs
- Quality System Upgrade and Refinement Cycles
- Lean Quality and Operational Excellence Integration
- Six Sigma and Process Efficiency Programs
- On-Time Delivery and Quality Performance Benchmarking
Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction
- Customer Feedback Monitoring and Analysis
- Quality Assurance Program Development
- Quality Policy Communication and Training
- Customer Complaint and Resolution Tracking
Frequently Asked Questions About AS9120 Certification and Consulting
AS9120 certification is formal recognition by an accredited third-party auditor that your business operates a Quality Management System meeting all AS9120B requirements for distributors and stockists supplying the aviation, space, and defense industries. AS9120 Consulting accelerates your path to certification by building your system, training your team, and preparing audit documentation.
The standards apply to different roles in the aerospace supply chain. AS9100 covers organizations that design and manufacture aerospace products, AS9110 covers repair stations and maintenance organizations, and AS9120 covers distributors and stockists that procure, stock, and resell parts and materials. All three incorporate ISO 9001:2015 plus aerospace requirements; AS9120 adds distributor-specific controls such as traceability and counterfeit-part prevention.
Organizations that purchase, store, and resell aerospace parts, materials, hardware, or assemblies — without manufacturing or repairing them — benefit from AS9120 certification to qualify as approved distributors for primes, OEMs, and operators.
Most organizations complete AS9120 Consulting, system implementation, and achieve certification within 3 to 6 months, depending on organizational size, existing QMS maturity, and resource availability. Larger or more complex operations may require 6 to 9 months.
Yes. Our AS9120 Consulting includes creation of your quality manual, standard operating procedures, work instructions, forms, traceability and records templates, and all distributor-specific documented information required for certification compliance and operational reference.
Yes. We provide fully remote AS9120 Consulting, including system design, documentation development, virtual training delivery, remote internal audits, and preparation support across North America and select international locations.
Yes. Our AS9120 Consulting includes real-time audit support, mock audit execution, remote or on-site presence during certification audits, and direct coordination with certification-body auditors to address findings and nonconformities.
Certification is maintained through ongoing surveillance, with a full recertification audit typically conducted every three years. Our AS9120 Consulting prepares you for both initial certification and continued surveillance so your registration stays current.
Yes. We begin most engagements with a complimentary gap analysis that evaluates your current QMS against AS9120B so you can see the scope of work — and the path to certification — before committing.
Contact Us
Ready to Certify?
Please let us know how we can help with your AS9120 Consulting needs. Every engagement can begin with a complimentary gap analysis.