Ensuring the continuity of your AS9100 certification is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the aerospace industry. Acquiring the certification is just the beginning. To help your business remain compliant and committed to quality, you have to ensure that systems of compliance placed to acquire the certification maintain their desired standard. Here are a few tips on how to maintain that AS9100 certification:
1. Leadership Commitment
Sustaining AS9100 certification begins with top leadership. They must champion the cause of quality, emphasizing its importance throughout the organization. This commitment trickles down, creating a culture of quality where everyone is dedicated to upholding standards.
They are the ones who can look at the quality management system’s (QMS) performance as a whole and decide if it matches the standard. QMS is the backbone of AS9100 compliance. It ensures that processes are defined, documented, and adhered to consistently. Encouraging a regular review and update to the QMS to accommodate changes in technology, regulations, or business needs makes sure the business remains compliant.
2. Training and Competence
Continuous training is essential. Ensure your employees have the skills and knowledge required to perform their tasks efficiently. Regular assessments can identify competency gaps and guide training programs.
One of the training’s primary focus should be proper document control to ensure order and consistency within your organization. Employees must learn to ensure that all documents and records are up-to-date, readily accessible, and secure. An effective document control system simplifies audits and compliance.
3. Internal Audits
Internal audits are invaluable for maintaining AS9100 certification because they provide a structured approach to evaluating your QMS. These audits are conducted by impartial, trained internal auditors within your organization. They help identify non-conformities, deviations, and areas for improvement, ensuring that your processes stay aligned with AS9100 standards.
By regularly assessing the effectiveness of your QMS through internal audits, you can proactively address issues, implement corrective actions, and continuously enhance your quality processes. This helps your organization remain compliant and well-prepared for external certification body audits, ultimately contributing to long-term certification sustainability.
4. Supplier Management
Ensuring that your suppliers meet the same rigorous quality standards as your organization is crucial for consistency in product or service quality. By effectively managing your suppliers, you can mitigate risks associated with the supply chain, reduce the likelihood of non-conformities, and enhance product or service reliability.
This approach minimizes disruptions and deviations from AS9100 requirements. It demonstrates your commitment to quality across the supply chain, which is essential for sustaining certification and building trust with customers. Effective supplier management also aids in identifying potential areas for improvement and streamlining processes for long-term certification success.
5. Corrective And Preventive Actions (CAPA)
CAPA are indispensable for maintaining AS9100 certification. They are the systematic tools that help organizations address non-conformities and potential issues swiftly and effectively. CAPA not only rectifies existing problems but also identifies root causes to prevent their recurrence. By proactively tackling these issues, organizations ensure continuous improvement in their quality management systems.
This demonstrates a commitment to the AS9100 standard’s principles of excellence, thereby safeguarding certification status. Regular CAPA implementation helps organizations fine-tune their processes, minimize risks, and enhance customer satisfaction. It’s a cornerstone in sustaining AS9100 certification by promoting a culture of problem-solving and quality enhancement.
6. Communication and Awareness
Effective communication and awareness programs reinforce AS9100 compliance within your organization. Maintain open communication channels regarding quality issues and compliance. Ensure that all employees are aware of their roles in maintaining certification.
Additionally, management reviews provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of your QMS. Conduct periodic reviews focusing on data-driven results, areas for improvement, and strategic decisions based on QMS performance.
7. Customer Feedback
Listening to customer feedback is invaluable for driving continuous improvements. Implement systems for collecting, analyzing, and acting upon customer feedback to enhance your products or services. By actively seeking and analyzing customer feedback, businesses can identify areas for improvement and promptly address any emerging concerns.
Moreover, incorporating customer feedback into the continuous improvement process can lead to enhanced products and services, increased customer satisfaction, and, ultimately, the preservation of AS9100 certification.
AS9100 Certification Excellence With BCS
Sustaining AS9100 certification demands an unwavering commitment to quality, continual improvement, and adherence to stringent standards. These measures are essential to thriving in the aerospace industry.
Leverage BCS’s extensive experience as ISO and AS9100 certification consultants. With a proven track record spanning numerous industries, their comprehensive AS9100 consulting services are tailored to your unique needs. Trust BCS to guide your organization toward maintaining AS9100 certification and achieving operational excellence. Contact the ISO certification services company here.
