What is the difference between AS9100 and ISO 9001?

Most modern businesses and organizations have embraced the idea of standardised management systems to apply process governance in areas from quality, safety and information security to environmental aspects, innovation and artificial intelligence. The generic ISO management system standards apply to businesses across industries, but there are also standards developed to fit the context of a specific industry.

The quality management system (QMS) standards ISO 9001 and AS9100 are two such examples: both are designed to help organizations ensure the quality of products and consistency in their supply chains and therefore certification to either is often a “ticket to trade”. The only difference between ISO 9001 and AS9100 is that the first is generic and applicable to all industries, while the latter is specific to the aerospace industry and its supply chain.

What are ISO 9001 and AS9100?

Although both standards cover a quality management system (QMS), they serve slightly different purposes;

  • The International Standards Organization’s ISO 9001 is internationally recognised and the most widely used QMS standard in the world as it is applicable regardless of company’s industry, size and business. The core focus of ISO 9001 is to manage quality aspects and meet customer demands. Organizations certified to ISO 9001 demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
  • AS9100 includes all the requirements of ISO 9001, with additional requirements specific to the aerospace industry. It was developed by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) with the help of various aerospace companies and organizations around the world. It includes criteria for a QMS that focuses on areas such as risk management, supply chain management, and the reliability and safety of products and services. Certification to AS9100 is often a requirement for companies to do business with aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, as it indicates that the supplier meets the higher quality standards of the aerospace industry.

Both standards are built on ISO’s harmonized structure and emphasize the importance of top management involvement, a strong customer focus, the process approach, and continual improvement.

Key differences between ISO 9001 and AS 9100

Both ISO 9001 and AS9100 are based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, which is a four-step model for developing, implementing and improving the management system.

Being specific to an industry, AS9100 is more detailed and has a broader scope when it comes to quality and safety standards applicable to the aerospace industry. Additional requirements of AS9100 are:

Risk management:

AS9100 places a significant emphasis on risk management throughout the design, development, and manufacturing processes. It requires organizations to have a thorough risk management process to prevent and mitigate risks, which is critical to ensure safety and reliability.

Product safety:

The AS9100 standard includes explicit requirements for product safety, including the assessment and mitigation of risks associated with product safety throughout the product's lifecycle.

Counterfeit parts prevention:

AS9100 has stringent requirements for preventing counterfeit or suspect parts, which is essential to ensure the safety and quality of aerospace components.

Configuration management:

AS9100 requires a more rigorous approach to configuration management, ensuring that all product and service configurations are identified, documented, and tracked throughout their lifecycle.

Project management:

AS9100 includes specific requirements for project management, ensuring that projects are planned, managed, and realized in a controlled manner, which is crucial for the complex aerospace projects.

Special requirements:

AS9100 addresses special requirements, critical items, and key characteristics, which are essential due to the high level of regulation and need for traceability and accountability.

Supplier management:

AS9100 has more stringent requirements for supplier management, including the assessment and monitoring of suppliers to ensure that they meet the same high-quality standards required of aerospace industry manufacturers.

Organizations seeking to comply with AS9100 must ensure that their QMS is robust enough to meet these additional requirements, beyond what is required by ISO 9001. Learn more about DNV AS9100 foundation course and AS9100 internal auditor training.

ISO 9001:2015 transition to AS9100

Most organizations in the aerospace supply chain will likely be certified to AS9100 already. For companies new to the industry and transitioning from ISO 9001, there are a few recommended steps:

  1. Determine what additions are required to complement the existing ISO 9001 management system. This involves undertaking an ISO 9001 to AS9100 gap analysis, ideally in conjunction with the certifying body, to reveal areas that need to be addressed.
  2. Train relevant personnel on the additional requirements posed by AS9100. 
  3. Assess and update the documentation and records processes of the current system to reflect the added requirements.
  4. Conduct internal audits to ensure that the management system has been expanded to cover the additional AS9100 requirements.
  5. Undergo the certification audit by an accredited certification body like DNV to finalize the transition.

The transition process may also need to involve subcontractors and suppliers who must meet the AS9100 requirements if they have not already. Organizations expanding from ISO 9001 should plan the transition carefully and ensure that all necessary changes are implemented before the AS9100 certification audit.

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