Cont inuous

Profess iona l deve lopment

Peter pictured (extreme left) at the

recent course on AS9100C held

given by SC21 strategic partner TEC

Transnational at the Metalforming

Centre in West Bromwich 2009.

moving up to AS9100

It is worth explaining some of our basic methods of working on projects such as this:

• The days are scheduled for mutually convenient dates and we

won’t necessarily be on site all day nor requiring you or your staff to be present at all times

• Typically some time each day will be spent note taking for the

processes being evaluated then time will be required to write the documentation on your behalf for your subsequent approval

• We travel with a fully equipped mobile office and we can supply all

consumables

• We prefer it if staff participate in the creation of the system and will

gladly deal with points requiring clarification or proposals to con-sider

• There will be a final report that you will be asked to discuss and

sign off once the project has been completed In return we need you to supply:

• The time of your relevant staff to talk us through the process, read

the resultant procedures, propose amendments and sign them off once they are satisfied

• A meeting room for meetings and training sessions during the

project with attendance of staff at appropriate sessions

• A quality representative experienced in maintaining your current

ISO9001 QMS and a trained auditor

• Basic office facilities from which to operate

Pete Thornton-Smith B.Met CEng MCQI CQP MIMMM Senior Partner of The BPAS Group

Thornbank Offices, 38 Moorgate Road, Rotherham S60 2AG Phone: 01709 739093 or email on pete@thebpasgroup.co.uk Fax: 08700 526568. Web site: www.thebpasgroup.co.uk

Quality systems made to measure to fit your business

AS9100 relates to the requirements of the aviation, space and defence industries following work undertaken by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). Established from industry with representatives from the Americas, Asia/ Pacific and Europe, their aim was to make significant improvements in quality and cost reduction throughout the value stream. This standard incorporates ISO 9001:2008 but contains additional requirements in response to the stakeholders. These requirements are complimentary and not alternatives to ISO9001:2008. In addition, where any statutory or regulatory requirements apply then they shall take precedence over the standard. A company can move directly to AS9100 or more likely develop an existing ISO9001 system which is what is covered inside. The BPAS Group can assist you in making this move as well as outlining the recently launched SC21 initiative that will help you build a sustainable relationship with the aerospace primes with the potential for increased sales.

The role of EASA EASA is the European Aviation Safety Agency and is

responsible for promoting the highest common

standards of safety and environmental protection in

civil aviation in Europe and worldwide.

• it advises the EU in relation the drafting of new

legislation

• it implements and monitors safety rules including

inspections in member states

• it authorises type certification of aircraft and

components as well as approving organisations

involved in the design, manufacture and

maintenance of aeronautical products

• it authorises third country non EU operators

• it conducts safety analysis and research

OASIS Database

This is a database of all aerospace suppliers and one that you need to register with for an annual fee. You will need to appoint a supplier

administrator as part of your membership. There is also a feedback system that relays performance between suppliers to customers.

YOUR QMS TO DATE

• regularly audited with corrective

actions closed out in a timely

manner.

• metrics in place and developed so

as to demonstrate continuous

improvement.

• at least one Management Review

meeting a year ensuring the

outputs from the QMS are effective

or actioned as appropriate

• a quality representative assigned

to oversee the QMS

• customer satisfaction effectively

measured and actioned

the additional requirements of AS9100C over ISO9001:2008 AS9100 is now at revision ‘C’ and these notes aim to give you

some general guidance as to the areas where the additional

requirement over and above ISO 9001:2008

impact on your existing

QMS

• De f i n i t i ons

Clear definitions for:

Risks, Special Processes, Critical items and Key Characteristics.

• The Sys tem -Sec t i on 4

You need to include customer specific QA requirements and

demonstrate staff have access to the system including

awareness of any changes. You need to control the documents

generated by your suppliers, for example, in terms of structure

and content.

• Managemen t Respons i b i l i t y - Sec t ion 5

In keeping with the SC21 initiative you are now required to

measure delivery and quality performance to your customer and

take action when planned results are not achieved.

• Produc t Rea l i sa t i on - Sec t ion 7

Control of temporary or permanent transfer of activity required

with numerous additions under Design including where

appropriate splitting it into distinct activities; outputs to specify

any critical items including key characteristics with specific

actions relevant to them and testing to be stringently planned,

controlled and reviewed to demonstrate compliance.

Purchasing process requires you to determine and manage tie

risk when appointing suppliers. You need to keep a register of

suppliers with their scope of approval and current status. You

are expected to review performance in order to set the level of

control and take action when deemed inadequate. The process

by which you appoint your resource to grant approval status

needs defining. Suppliers will use customer approved special

processes when required and you will responsible for the quality

from suppliers even when nominated by the customer.

Information on purchase orders must include version status of

referenced documents; acceptance criteria for design, inspection

and testing; the need to be notified of any non-conforming product

and to request your approval before disposition; have significant

changes to their process of supply highlighted; clearly flow down all

relevant requirements to the supplier including those of your

customer; state any record retention requirements and possible

need to access any level of the supply chain. Some companies

would issue a supplier QA manual as a controlled document in order

to cover all these aspects.

On receipt of goods from suppliers have a system to identify and

record those that are released into production prior to full

verification in case they need recalling.

All parts issued and produced must be accounted for including

those scrapped with evidence that all planned processes have been

undertaken. Am to prevent, detect and remove foreign bodes.

Monitor and control utilities and services that impact on product

conformity. Ensure clear instructions issued by suitable means as

regards criteria of workmanship.

First article inspection to be undertaken and then gets repeated

when significant changes occur. Most important to identify those

staff who have the responsibility to approve changes to processes

and documents.

Any changes made need to be assessed so there is no adverse

effect. Any equipment used to automate product realisation needs

to be validated prior to use and maintained. Storage and periodic

preservation/ condition checks shall be undertaken.

Post delivery support is required and traceability necessary espe-

cially within configuration management. Any acceptance authority

needs defining such as stamp holders, passwords and electronic

signatures.

Preservation of the product is related to cleaning, handling,

shelf life, stock rotation, marking, labeling and control of foreign

bodies. Measurement equipment to be controlled via a register

and a positive system to recall instruments for actual calibration

which shall be undertaken in a suitable environment.

• Measu remen t , ana l ys i s and

improvemen t - Sec t i on 8

Methods of obtaining data for customer satisfaction clearly

listed. Where deficiencies are identified then you shall develop

and implement improvement plans and assess effectiveness.

Where QMS process issues are identified then check if this has

created non-conforming product or if other parts of the system

are affected then take appropriate action including the control of

affected product.

Product measurement requirements shall be fully documented

with records of results; any sampling plans must be statistically

sound; control product released prior to completed testing via a

recall system; need to record test results and ensure necessary

test documentation is available at delivery when required to go

with goods.

Method to approve the person who verdicts Non-conforming

material reports now required; timely resolution needed on

complaints; prevent occurrences on other processes and

products; get authorized representative from design when

verdict is to use as is or the customer when it amounts to a

departure from contract; ensure scrap permanently marked or

positively controlled till physically rendered unusable.

Flow down CAR to supplier when they are the root cause; have

an escalation procedure and check for non-conforming product

elsewhere. Monitor continuous improvement for effectiveness.