Glossary

Aerospace manufacturing quality

Aerospace manufacturing quality is the control of processes, materials, records, and inspections used to build aerospace parts.

AS9100 Aerospace Quality Management Standard Quality, NCR, and Continuous Improvement

Aerospace manufacturing quality refers to the controls, practices, records, and inspections used to ensure that aerospace parts, assemblies, and production processes meet defined engineering and customer requirements. It covers how work is planned, performed, verified, documented, and corrected in manufacturing environments where traceability and configuration control are important.

In industrial operations, the term commonly includes inspection planning, first article inspection, nonconformance management, corrective action, material and lot traceability, operator qualification records, process monitoring, and control of production documentation. It is often supported by systems such as MES, QMS, ERP, PLM, inspection software, and digital work instruction platforms.

Aerospace manufacturing quality should not be reduced to final inspection alone. It includes upstream process controls, approved documentation, revision control, supplier quality inputs, in-process verification, and records that show what was built, how it was built, and what evidence was captured. Standards and frameworks such as AS9100 and AS9102 are commonly associated with this area, but the term itself describes the broader quality discipline used in aerospace production.

AS9100 is the overall aerospace quality management system standard, while AS9100D is its current revision. In practice, “AS9100” without a letter is often used generically, so you need to confirm which revision your contracts, procedures, and audits actually reference and ensure QMS documentation and evidence align with that version.

What is the AS9100 Quality Management System?

AS9100 is an aerospace-focused quality management system standard that builds on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for risk management, configuration control, special processes, and product safety. It defines how a QMS should be structured and managed, but does not guarantee compliance, audit outcomes, or product safety on its own. Effectiveness depends on implementation, validation, and day-to-day execution in your specific environment.

What is the new name for AS9100?

AS9100 has not been renamed. The current version is AS9100D (aligned with ISO 9001:2015), and it is still formally called “AS9100.” Revisions (B, C, D, etc.) are version identifiers, not new names. Always verify the latest valid revision and customer/contract requirements before changing your documented references.

What is the aerospace standard AS9100?

AS9100 is a quality management system standard for aviation, space, and defense organizations, based on ISO 9001 with additional aerospace-specific requirements. It defines how a QMS should be structured and controlled, but it does not guarantee regulatory compliance or audit outcomes. Implementation and evidence quality vary widely by site, integration, and process maturity.

Related Glossary

AS9100 product safety

AS9100 product safety is the control of aerospace product risks that could affect safe intended use.