IAQG (International Aerospace Quality Group)

The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) is an industry-driven association of aerospace and defense companies that collaborate to develop and maintain common quality standards and guidance for the global aerospace supply chain. It focuses on aligned quality management system (QMS) requirements, standardization of processes, and shared approaches to quality and reliability across design, manufacturing, maintenance, and support activities.

IAQG works through regional sectors (such as AAQG in the Americas, EAQG in Europe, and APAQG in Asia-Pacific) and brings together original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), major suppliers, and other aerospace organizations to define and update common expectations for quality and operational control.

Role in manufacturing and regulated operations

In industrial and manufacturing environments, IAQG is commonly associated with the family of aerospace quality standards that many organizations use as the basis for their QMS and supplier requirements. These include, for example:

• Defining and maintaining the aerospace QMS standard (commonly known as AS/EN/JISQ 9100), which extends ISO 9001 with aerospace-specific requirements.
• Developing related standards such as those for aerospace distributors and stockists (e.g., 9120) and maintenance organizations (e.g., 9110).
• Providing guidance on topics such as risk-based thinking, configuration management, design and development control, production process control, and continuous improvement in aerospace operations.
• Supporting harmonized supplier expectations across OEMs for documentation, traceability, configuration control, and nonconformance management.

For manufacturers and MRO providers, IAQG standards and guidance influence how processes are documented, how quality records are managed, and how systems such as MES, ERP, and QMS are configured to support traceability, auditability, and consistent application of controls.

IAQG and quality standards

IAQG does not certify organizations itself. Instead, it develops standards and oversees schemes that accreditation and certification bodies may follow. Organizations typically align their internal procedures and digital systems with IAQG-originated standards to:

• Use a common language and structure for aerospace QMS requirements.
• Address expectations for planning, production, inspection, first article inspection (FAI), and nonconformance handling in aerospace programs.
• Support consistent supplier oversight and flowdown of quality and traceability requirements.

In digital manufacturing environments, IAQG standards often serve as reference points when designing workflows for document control, change management, configuration management, and evidence capture across OT and IT systems.

Common confusion

• IAQG vs. AS9100 or other specific standards: IAQG is the group that develops and maintains many aerospace quality standards. AS9100 and related documents are individual standards that come out of IAQG activities, not separate organizations.
• IAQG vs. certification bodies: IAQG typically does not directly issue certificates to companies. Certification is usually performed by accredited third-party bodies that apply IAQG-developed standards and oversight schemes.

Operational relevance

In day-to-day operations, IAQG is usually referenced indirectly, for example when:

• Customers specify compliance with AS/EN/JISQ 9100 series requirements in contracts or purchase orders.
• Engineering and quality teams design process controls and electronic records to align with IAQG-originated QMS expectations.
• Suppliers adopt shared quality and documentation practices to remain compatible with multiple aerospace OEMs that follow IAQG standards.