AS9100 Certification: How It Helps Aerospace Manufacturers to Grow

Quality and safety are the two most crucial concerns in the aerospace industry because of the purposes to their products are put to use. They are used in manufacturing of heavy aerospace equipment, airplanes, spaceships and defense crafts which are used for services of national interests. Naturally, safety and quality are most serious considerations for every aerospace company. They should be able to assure no errors in their manufactured items to prevent accidents, operational failures, and other risks. While there is no doubt that aerospace manufacturing is a regulated and quality-driven industry, the AS9100 certification helps them to meet supreme quality requirements for safety assurance. This standard focuses on all those aspects that can help companies to reach expectations of their customers.

The advantage of getting this certification does not just end with higher customer satisfaction for manufacturers. It can help them in an overall improvement of their manufacturing business in many ways that pave a path towards growth. Here are some of those improvements.

Implementation of a Strong Process Approach

The first thing that any quality assurance certification mandates for an organization is the initiation of a uniform process approach through implementation of a quality management system (QMS). A process approach applies to any high-level certification and to any industry such as the ISO 9001 for mainstream businesses, AS9100 for aerospace businesses, ISO 13485 certification for medical devices manufacturers and so on. A structural principal of these certifications is to assist an organization in establishing processes or practices that will help to make their products or services flawless and satisfactory to clients. A process approach can also help an organization to streamline and organize their all processes including procuring of supplies, product designing, development, and delivery. Organizational management can look at the whole picture of their processes and identify any inefficiency, inaccuracies, or errors anywhere. Subsequently, they can make improvements for uninterrupted production and delivery.

Costs Optimization

As a result of efficient processes and reduced risks, many costs can be saved for aerospace manufacturers. The AS9100 standard calls for continuous improvement in processes by figuring out areas in QMS which can be improved over time. Seriously considering this can help a manufacturer to benefit or make small gains regularly, especially in the form of cost savings. Encouraging employees to be mindful of improvement opportunities in processes can help run operations smoothly and cost-efficiently.

Improved Relationships with Partners

A section of the AS9100 standard mentions that an aerospace manufacturer needs to focus on its relationships and interactions with partners i.e. suppliers and distributors. By communicating your quality goals and quality control methods to them, a manufacturer can apply them to work on mutually beneficial initiatives. Together they can discover new ways or develop faster delivery methods, improve tailoring of aerospace parts or components, minimize costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. The standard helps a manufacturer to build close communication with its partners, maintain cordial relations consistently and help each other mutually to save time, costs, and uplift quality of products.

Corporate Reputation and Market Advantage

Apart from internal process improvements and costs reduction benefits, the AS9100 standard can provide a manufacturer with a competitive advantage in their vast market place. Achieving an internationally-recognized quality certification can build a reputation in the industry for the manufacturer and provide it with an array of opportunities. Global companies or service providers, space research centers, defense organizations and original equipment manufacturers seek to get quality and safe supplies. They are most likely to partner with manufacturers which follow a standardized QMS to maintain their quality assurance certification. Obtaining the AS9100 certification can be a costly investment for aerospace manufacturers. However, if you measure these benefits and compare with the costs, you can see the benefits overweigh the costs. As the most vital requisite for getting this certification is fuller focus on a quality management system, it engages commitment from top-level management to lower-level workers. Operating a QMS and overseeing all quality aspects to minimize risks might be an aggravating process but it can be very rewarding. Higher customer satisfaction, improved reliance of customers, increased sales and consistent growth are consequential values a manufacturer may get out of the certification.

Damon Anderson is the director of an ISO certification consultancy which advises businesses in different sectors to achieve a required ISO certification easily.