AS9100:2016 has been published!

Summary of the Changes

AS9100:2016 contains many changes including:

• A new structure aligned with Annex SL
• A focus on product safety
• A focus on counterfeit parts prevention
• Risk Based Thinking
• Awareness of the management system across the organization
• Awareness of human factors and influence

The changes have already been summarized by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and more information can be found on their website including detailed presentations, clause by clause changes, correlation matrix and FAQs.

Supplement Rule 003

To ensure an orderly and effective transition from the current version to the new version for thousands of aerospace companies worldwide, the IAQG has published Supplemental Rule 003 which is currently sat at draft status. Click here to read our recent blog for more detail.

Timescales and Key Milestones

NQA are expecting to begin auditing to the new versions of these standards in early 2017. All audits after 1^st June 2017 must be to AS9100:2016 and your transition audit must be completed by 1^st June 2018.  This means you will have approximately 16 months to transition. 
 
As presented by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) Other Party Management Team (OPMT), SR 003 includes a number of deadlines that you, as an aerospace certified company, must be aware of. These are aligned to the deadlines associated with the ISO 9001:2015 transition and we have also included some important NQA Transition Milestones:

• January/February 2017 – NQA expects to begin conducting audits to these new standards
• March 2017 - NQA will discuss your readiness to transition to the applicable AS 9100/9110/9120:2016 with a representative of your company
• 1^st June 2017 – All audits after this date must be to the newest versions of the standards
• 1^st December 2017 - NQA shall conduct a risk and mitigation analysis for any client that has not transitioned to the 2016 editions of the aerospace standards
• 1^st June 2018 – All transition audits to the newest aerospace standards for existing NQA clients are to be completed by this date
• 1^st September 2018 – The transition audit report, associated documentation and closed NCR’s (if any) must be received by NQA
• 15^th September 2018 – NQA must make the certification decision to transition a client to the newest version of the aerospace standard by this date.  If not, the applicable certification will no longer be eligible for transition and an initial certification audit will be required.

Key Points to Note

• SR 003 requires that certification bodies like NQA, add audit time to your transition audit above and beyond the scheduled surveillance or re-assessment audit. 
• Transition audits can occur at a surveillance, re-assessment or during a special visit.
• If transitioning at a special visit or surveillance, your current certificate expiration date will be maintained. 
• If you elect to transition at a re-assessment audit, you will receive a new 3 year certificate.
• A company cannot be certified to the newest version of ISO 9001:2015 and the current version of the AS9100 series of standards (e.g. ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100C) at the same time.

Next Steps

• Purchase the AS9100:2016 (AS9100D) standard here: http://www.sae.org/technical/standards/AS9100D 
  and start implementing the requirements as soon as possible. Even though you cannot obtain a certificate to this new standard until early 2017, your understanding and implementing the requirements of this new standard will ensure that you are well on your way to becoming certified in 2017 and avoiding the potential shortfall of auditors in 2018.

• Use the upcoming NQA transition support materials including emails, documents and webinars which will alert you to the impending deadlines and dates, the next of which will be the publishing of the AS9110:2016 and AS9120:2016 standards.

• Make every effort to conduct your transition audit in 2017 – don’t delay! By scheduling and conducting your transition audit in 2017, you will avoid any possible auditor and resource shortages in 2018.

• Lastly, talk to NQA early and often about your transition audit.  Remember, this audit activity will be longer than your regularly scheduled audit as required by SR 003.  Upon enquiry we will be able to tell you with the actual length of your transition audit.