What are the Key Steps in the AS9100 Certification Process?

AS9100 certification is pivotal for aerospace quality and safety, reflecting its growing importance in aerospace supply chains. Studies indicate that organizations holding AS9100 certification experience around 26% fewer major safety incidents, highlighting its impact on operational reliability. Source

If you’ve been searching for how to get AS9100 certification, knowing the step-by-step AS9100 certification process can help you avoid wasted time and effort.

In this article, you’ll learn each step of the AS9100 certification process simply and clearly. And you’ll be ready to plan your path forward confidently.

How to Get a AS9100 Certification for Your Business

If you’ve been searching for how to get AS9100 certification, knowing the step-by-step AS9100 certification process can help you avoid wasted time and effort.

In this article, you’ll learn each step of the AS9100 certification process simply and clearly. And you’ll be ready to plan your path forward confidently.

How to Get a AS9100 Certification for Your Business

1. Understand AS9100 Standard Requirements

Before starting the AS9100 certification process, companies must clearly know the standard requirements. These are related to quality management, safety, and aerospace rules.

The first step is to read the AS9100 standard and compare it with your current system. This helps you find gaps and make a plan. The table below shows a simple view:

1. Gap Analysis of Existing System

A gap analysis tells you what changes are needed to meet AS9100 rules. This makes the AS9100 certification process easier. Some important things in this step are:

• Compare current policies with AS9100 requirements

• Check process documentation and records

• Find weak areas in supplier controls

• Review risk management steps

• Create a report with clear improvement tasks

2. Build a Plan for Implementation

Once you know the gaps, you must create a clear plan. This step ensures you stay on track and organized. Important things to include are:

➤ Timeline for each action
➤ Clear role for each team member
➤ Resources needed for updates
➤ Deadlines for training and reviews
➤ Milestones for progress checks

A well-structured plan makes the how-to-get-AS-9100-certification step easier and faster.

3. Train Employees and Management

For the AS9100 system to work, both employees and managers must be trained. Training builds awareness about quality, safety, and aerospace requirements. Everyone should know their role in compliance.

Training may cover topics such as quality checks, supplier handling, and risk control. Companies should arrange regular sessions to make sure all staff follow the same process. Strong training helps avoid mistakes during the audit and builds a culture of quality.

4. Apply New Processes and Controls

In this step, the changes are applied in daily work. New procedures should be documented and followed by all departments. Management must make sure that supplier checks, safety processes, and reporting are updated.

This is one of the most important parts of the AS9100 certification process because it proves the company is serious about compliance. Continuous monitoring and reporting should be done to confirm that the new system works well before the audit.

5. Internal Audit Before External Review

Internal audits are like practice exams before the official audit. Companies should check every part of their system, from suppliers to customer service. 

Findings must be corrected before the certification body visits. The table below shows the key parts of internal audits:

1. Corrective Actions for Gaps

After the internal audit, companies must fix the issues found. This step is called corrective action. It includes rewriting weak policies, improving supplier checks, and retraining staff. Corrective actions show that the company is committed to improving quality.

In fact, the number of AS9100 certifications in the U.S. has risen by nearly 17% over the last five years, underscoring its growing importance (source). Without closing these gaps, the how-to-get-AS-9100-certification process may fail.

Each action should be tracked and reported to management. This ensures that all mistakes are fixed before the final audit.

2. External Audit and Certification

The last step is the external audit by an official certification body. They will check all documents, processes, and records. If everything meets the AS9100 standard, the company will receive certification. The table below explains it simply:

This marks the successful completion of the AS9100 certification process.

How Does the AS9100 Certification Process Differ from ISO 9001?

We have curated a table to make you understand:

Wrapping Up

Now you know how to get AS 9100 certification through a step-by-step process from learning the standard to achieving certification and maintaining it. This clear path helps reduce mistakes, delays, and unexpected AS9100 certification process costs.

Ready to begin your AS9100 certification journey? KSQA offers expert guidance every step of the way from gap analysis to certification. Visit KSQA’s website today and simplify your path toward compliance and aerospace excellence!