Nadcap Consulting
Nadcap Consulting is a structured preparation service that helps aerospace and defense suppliers achieve and maintain Nadcap accreditation for their special processes. Administered by the Performance Review Institute (PRI), Nadcap sets a single, industry-managed standard that prime contractors require for special processes such as heat treating, welding, chemical processing, coatings, and non-destructive testing. American Quality Management helps suppliers prepare their quality system, documentation, processes, and personnel to pass Nadcap audits with confidence.
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Five Reasons to Invest in Nadcap Consulting
Prime Contractors Require Nadcap Accreditation for Special Processes
Aerospace and defense prime contractors mandate Nadcap accreditation before sourcing special processes from a supplier. Without accreditation, you cannot win or retain special-process work. Professional Nadcap Consulting positions your processes to meet these mandatory supply-chain requirements.
eAuditNet Visibility Determines Who Primes Can Source
Prime contractors source approved special-process suppliers through PRI’s eAuditNet system, where only accredited suppliers appear. Nadcap Consulting prepares your processes for accreditation so primes can find, qualify, and award work to your organization.
Failed Audits and Open RCCAs Stall Accreditation
Nadcap audits are exacting, and unresolved findings or weak Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) responses stall or block accreditation. Nadcap Consulting prepares your RCCA process, addresses findings at the root cause, and closes gaps before the official audit.
Unprepared Special Processes and NDT Personnel Create Audit Risk
Uncontrolled special processes, missing process documentation, and uncertified non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel are among the most common reasons suppliers fail Nadcap audits. Nadcap Consulting establishes the process controls, documentation, and personnel certification the Nadcap checklists require.
Self-Preparing Against the Nadcap Checklist Is Costly and Slow
Attempting accreditation without experienced guidance leads to repeated audit cycles, rising cost, and lost contracts. Experienced Nadcap Consulting distills detailed checklist requirements into a focused, audit-ready preparation path.
Scope Your Nadcap Engagement.
Nadcap is special-process scope-specific — heat treat, chemical processing, NDT, welding, materials testing. The first call narrows scope and timeline before you commit.
Get Your Nadcap RoadmapWhat Our Nadcap Consulting Process Includes
Scope Definition and Gap Analysis Against the Nadcap Checklist
We begin by identifying which Nadcap special-process commodities apply to your operation, then conduct a complimentary gap analysis against the applicable Nadcap audit criteria and checklists. This identifies which requirements your processes already meet and which require documentation, control, or personnel preparation.
Quality System and Special-Process Documentation Development
Our Nadcap Consulting team develops or strengthens your quality system documentation, process specifications, work instructions, and records to meet the checklist requirements for each of your special processes — building the auditable evidence Nadcap auditors expect.
Internal Audit, RCCA Preparation, and Personnel Training
We perform internal audits against the Nadcap checklist, prepare your Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) responses, and train your internal auditors and special-process and NDT personnel so your team is ready before the official assessment.
Mock Audit and Readiness Review
We run a mock Nadcap audit using the approved checklist to surface and resolve findings before PRI schedules the official audit, and we prepare your team for how the assessment will be conducted.
PRI Audit Coordination and Accreditation Support
We support you through scheduling with PRI, the on-site audit, eAuditNet submission, findings response, and the special-process Task Group review that leads to accreditation.
Why Choose AQM?
Why American Quality Management Delivers Nadcap Consulting Results
AQM’s consultants bring more than 25 years of quality and special-process experience across the aerospace and defense supply chain. Our Nadcap consulting approach has guided suppliers through internal audits, documented process improvements, and successful Nadcap assessments.
We build QMS documentation your team actually uses on the shop floor — not binders that exist only for the audit. Your gap analysis informs the roadmap; we start from your current state and build forward, not from a generic checklist.
Hands-On Nadcap and RCCA Expertise
Our Nadcap consultants have direct experience with the Nadcap process. We know what auditors look for, the red flags that trip up unprepared suppliers, and how to construct effective Root Cause Corrective Action responses that close findings.
Special-Process and NDT Preparation
We prepare your special processes against the applicable checklists and support the training and certification of your NDT personnel, so the people and processes under audit are ready before the auditor arrives.
“During our partnership, we achieved our aerospace quality upgrade with minimal findings, and AQM’s system work keeps our processes organized and easy to report on.”
Nadcap Consulting Service Areas
Comprehensive support from initial scoping to accreditation and re-accreditation.
Special-Process Commodities Covered:
Heat Treating · Welding · Chemical Processing · Coatings · Composites · Non-Destructive Testing · Conventional and Non-Conventional Machining · Surface Enhancement · Materials Testing Laboratories · Non-Metallic Materials Manufacturing and Testing · Measurement & Inspection · Fluid Distribution Systems · Elastomer Seals · Sealants · Electronics · Aerospace Quality Systems.
Nadcap Consulting Core Services
- Nadcap Consulting and Accreditation Planning
- Special-Process Scope Definition
- Quality System and Process Readiness Assessment
System Readiness Services
- Gap Analysis Against the Applicable Nadcap Checklist
- Nonconformity Identification and Resolution Management
- Documentation Review and Completeness Verification
Nadcap Implementation Support
- Quality System and Process Documentation Development
- Special-Process Specification and Work Instruction Creation
- Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Definition and Monitoring
- Documented Information Management and Records Control
Special-Process Controls
- Process Control Implementation and Verification
- NDT Personnel Training and Certification Support
- Measurement, Inspection, and Test Controls
- Special-Process Parameter and Equipment Control
Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) Management
- RCCA System Setup and Response Preparation
- Root Cause Analysis and Preventive Measures
- Verification and Closure Documentation
- Effectiveness Checks and Follow-Up Auditing
Audit Preparation and Support
- Internal Auditing Against the Nadcap Checklist
- Mock Nadcap Audit Execution and Feedback
- RCCA Response Preparation and Review
PRI Audit Coordination
- PRI Scheduling and eAuditNet Coordination
- Remote and On-Site Audit Support Services
- Findings Response and Task Group Review Support
- Accreditation and Re-Accreditation Preparation
Performance and Leadership Alignment
- Management Review and Performance Data Compilation
- Quality and Process Objectives Monitoring
- Merit-Status Performance Improvement
- Executive Stakeholder Training and Engagement
Continuous Improvement Programs
- Process Upgrade and Refinement Cycles
- Lean Quality and Operational Excellence Integration
- Six Sigma and Process Efficiency Programs
- Audit-Finding Trending and Reduction
Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction
- Prime Contractor Requirement Tracking
- Quality Assurance Program Development
- Process and Quality Policy Communication and Training
- Nonconformance and Corrective Action Tracking
Frequently Asked Questions About Nadcap Accreditation and Consulting
Nadcap is a global accreditation program for aerospace and defense special processes, administered by the Performance Review Institute (PRI). It applies a single, industry-managed audit standard that prime contractors rely on. Nadcap Consulting accelerates your path to accreditation by preparing your quality system, documentation, processes, and personnel, and by getting you audit-ready before the official assessment.
AS9100 certifies your organization’s overall aerospace quality management system, while Nadcap accredits specific special processes — such as heat treating, welding, or non-destructive testing — against detailed, process-level checklists. Many suppliers need both: AS9100 for the company-wide system and Nadcap for the special processes they perform.
Nadcap accreditation covers a defined set of special-process commodities, including heat treating, welding, chemical processing, coatings, composites, non-destructive testing, machining and surface enhancement, materials testing, measurement and inspection, fluid distribution systems, elastomer seals, sealants, electronics, and aerospace quality systems.
Aerospace and defense suppliers that perform special processes for prime contractors typically need Nadcap accreditation to win and keep that work. If a prime requires Nadcap for your commodity, accreditation is effectively a condition of doing business.
Preparation typically takes a few months depending on the number of special processes in scope and the maturity of your existing controls. The official PRI audit, findings response, and Task Group review then add time. Our Nadcap Consulting focuses your preparation so you enter the audit ready to pass.
Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) is the structured response Nadcap requires to address audit findings at their root cause. Weak or incomplete RCCA responses are a leading reason accreditation is delayed, so our Nadcap Consulting prepares and reviews your RCCA process before the audit.
Yes. Our Nadcap Consulting supports the training and certification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel, alongside special-process and internal-auditor training, so the people under audit meet the checklist requirements.
Yes. We provide remote Nadcap Consulting, including documentation development, virtual training, internal audits, RCCA preparation, and readiness support, with on-site support available across North America and select international locations.
Accreditation is maintained through periodic re-accreditation audits scheduled through PRI. Audit intervals can lengthen as you demonstrate sustained compliance and strong performance (merit status). Our Nadcap Consulting prepares you for both initial accreditation and ongoing re-accreditation.
Contact Us
Ready to Get Accredited?
Please let us know how we can help with your Nadcap Consulting needs. Every engagement can begin with a complimentary gap analysis.