Quality Control Standards and Their Meaning
What is the AS Series of Certification?
The AS series of standards is the quality management systems standard applicable to companies that supply to the aerospace and defense industries. These standards incorporate all of ISO 9001 with additional industry specific requirements for aerospace.
- AS 9100 is for organizations that design and manufacture products for the aerospace industry including parts, components and assemblies.
- AS 9110 is for repair stations and is based on AS 9100 but adds specific requirements that are critical for the maintenance of commercial, private, and military aircrafts.
- AS 9120 is for stockists and distributors of parts to manufacturers that supply the aerospace industry. This standard addresses the chain of custody, traceability, stock control and availability of records.
What are the differences between the ISO 9000 series?
- ISO 9001:2015 – sets out the requirements of a quality management system
- ISO 9000:2015 – covers the basic concepts and language
- ISO 9004:2009 – focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective
- ISO 19011:2011 – sets out guidance on internal and external audits of quality management systems.
The latest edition of ISO 9001 was published in September of 2015. It took over three years of revisions by experts from nearly 95 participating and observing countries to bring the standard up to date with modern needs.
With over 1.1 million certificates issued worldwide, ISO 9001 helps organizations demonstrate to customers that they can offer products and services of consistently good quality. It also acts as a tool to streamline their processes and make them more efficient at what they do. Acting ISO Secretary-General Kevin McKinley explains: “ISO 9001 allows organizations to adapt to a changing world. It enhances an organization’s ability to satisfy its customers and provides a coherent foundation for growth and sustained success.”
The 2015 edition features important changes, which Nigel Croft, Chair of the ISO subcommittee that developed and revised the standard, refers to as an “evolutionary rather than a revolutionary” process. “We are just bringing ISO 9001 firmly into the 21st century. The earlier versions of ISO 9001 were quite prescriptive, with many requirements for documented procedures and records. In the 2000 and 2008 editions, we focused more on managing processes, and less on documentation. Read Full Article
How does this information help you when sourcing components?
SourceESB.com will be providing these standards by company along with many other standards and associations.
Here are some companies that are currently listed as ISO.