Quality management standards are used across industries to ensure a level of reliability of products and services and to set expectations for productivity and caliber of work. The International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, is responsible for the ISO 9001 Standard, which is used across multiple industries. The AS 9100 Standard, used by organizations who operate in the aerospace and defense industries, is foundationally based upon the ISO 9001 Standard. Because of this, there are many similarities, but also some important differences. Here is what you need to know about how these standards compare.
AS 9100 and Aerospace and Defense Industries
The aerospace and defense industries have unique needs that must be addressed in the areas of production control, product realization, design and development, procurement, and nonconforming outputs. They also must adapt to evolving government needs and requirements. The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) recognized the benefits of ISO 9001, but also the need for expanded standards for aerospace and defense. As such, they took all the requirements of ISO 9001 and incorporated specific needs of these industries. This is why the quality community sometimes refers to AS 9100 as “ISO 9001 on steroids!”
Differences Between AS 9100 and ISO 9001
As mentioned, because AS 9100 is based on ISO 9001, there are many similarities. However, there are strikingly important differences between them. Terms such as critical items, key characteristic, product safety, and special requirements are terms uniquely defined for the AS 9100 Standard and not in the ISO 9001 vocabulary. Additionally, AS 9100 extensively covers product realization, which connects with the need for highly skilled manufacturing in these industries. Verification, validation, and post-delivery support are all covered by AS 9100 to specifically target the aerospace and defense industries.
Quality management standards like ISO 9001 and AS 9100 can be challenging to adopt and maintain, but Trident Quality Management Solutions is here to support you every step of the way. For a free assessment or more about our services, call Trident QMS at (520) 314-9422.