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Nearly every manufacturing or organizational operation today is open to pursuing certification under ISO 9001 or AS9100. While the two are often mentioned together, they serve different purposes. ISO 9001 is the foundational quality standard that applies broadly across industries, while AS9100 is tailored specifically for the aerospace sector. AS9100 raises the bar with stricter requirements, such as extended record-keeping timelines and more rigorous safety considerations.
At their core, both standards are designed to answer key questions:
Achieving ISO 9001 or AS9100 certification is no quick task. It demands a significant investment of time and documentation. Most organizations spend close to a year preparing before they can even apply. This preparation typically includes:
This effort builds a framework where nothing is left ambiguous, and every action is traceable.
Once documentation is in place, companies often bring in an outside firm to conduct a preliminary audit. This step acts as a trial run for certification. The auditors evaluate policies and procedures, identify gaps, and request additional objective evidence to prove that processes aren’t just written on paper but are being followed daily.
The final hurdle is the full audit stream led by ISO or AS9100-certified auditors. At this stage, every document is reviewed, every piece of objective evidence is examined, and daily business practices are scrutinized. Only after passing this comprehensive review does a company receive certification.
Certification is not just about preparation; it also requires operating under the standards long enough to generate proof of compliance. Companies typically need three to six months of working within their documented processes before they can demonstrate evidence of handling real-world challenges—such as product returns or manufacturing errors—in accordance with the standards.
In practice, this means certification timelines usually range from one to three years. Smaller companies may move faster, but even then, one year is considered a quick turnaround. Many organizations work under these standards for three to five years before formally pursuing certification.
ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications are more than just stamps of approval. They provide a universal framework for quality and accountability, ensuring that businesses not only have robust processes but also follow them consistently. For industries like aerospace, where safety and reliability are paramount, these certifications demonstrate a level of discipline and commitment that goes beyond minimum requirements.