SAE AS 9100C

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AEROSPACE

STANDARD

AS9100C

Issued 1999-11 Revised 2009-01

Superseding AS9100B

Quality Management Systems - Requirements for Aviation, Space and Defense Organizations

RATIONALE

This standard has been revised to incorporate the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. In addition, industry requirements, definitions and notes have been revised and additional requirements have been included in response to stakeholder needs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

REVISION SUMMARY/RATIONALE

INTRODUCTION

0.1 General

0.2 Process Approach

QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS — REQUIREMENTS

1. SCOPE

1.1 General

1.2 Application

2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES

3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1 Risk

3.2 Special Requirements

3.3 Critical Items

3.4 Key Characteristic

4. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

4.1 General Requirements

4.2 Documentation Requirements

4.2.1 General

4.2.2 Quality Manual

4.2.3 Control of Documents

4.2.4 Control of Records

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5. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

5.1 Management Commitment

5.2 Customer Focus

5.3 Quality Policy

5.4 Planning

5.4.1 Quality Objectives

5.4.2 Quality Management System Planning

5.5 Responsibility, Authority and Communication

5.5.1 Responsibility and Authority

5.5.2 Management Representative

5.5.3 Internal Communication

5.6 Management Review

5.6.1 General

5.6.2 Review Input

5.6.3 Review Output

6. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

6.1 Provision of Resources

6.2 Human Resources

6.2.1 General

6.2.2 Competence, Training and Awareness

6.3 Infrastructure

6.4 Work Environment

7. PRODUCT REALIZATION

7.1 Planning of Product Realization

7.1.1 Project Management

7.1.2 Risk Management

7.1.3 Configuration Management

7.1.4 Control of Work Transfers

7.2 Customer-Related Processes

7.2.1 Determination of Requirements Related to the Product

7.2.2 Review of Requirements Related to the Product

7.2.3 Customer Communication

7.3 Design and Development

7.3.1 Design and Development Planning

7.3.2 Design and Development Inputs

7.3.3 Design and Development Outputs

7.3.4 Design and Development Review

7.3.5 Design and Development Verification

7.3.6 Design and Development Validation

7.3.6.1 Design and Development Verification and Validation Testing

7.3.6.2 Design and Development Verification and Validation Documentation

7.3.7 Control of Design and Development Changes

7.4 Purchasing

7.4.1 Purchasing Process

7.4.2 Purchasing Information

7.4.3 Verification of Purchased Product

7.5 Production and Service Provision

7.5.1 Control of Production and Service Provision

7.5.1.1 Production Process Verification

7.5.1.2 Control of Production Process Changes

7.5.1.3 Control of Production Equipment, Tools and Software Programs

7.5.1.4 Post-Delivery Support

7.5.2 Validation of Processes for Production and Service Provision

7.5.3 Identification and Traceability

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7.5.4 Customer Property

7.5.5 Preservation of Product

7.6 Control of Monitoring and Measuring Equipment

8. MEASUREMENT, ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT

8.1 General

8.2 Monitoring and Measurement

8.2.1 Customer Satisfaction

8.2.2 Internal Audit

8.2.3 Monitoring and Measurement of Processes

8.2.4 Monitoring and Measurement of Product

8.3 Control of Nonconforming Product

8.4 Analysis of Data

8.5 Improvement

8.5.1 Continual Improvement

8.5.2 Corrective Action

8.5.3 Preventive Action

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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FOREWORD

To assure customer satisfaction, aviation, space and defense organizations must produce, and continually improve, safe, reliable products that meet or exceed customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The globalization of the industry and the resulting diversity of regional and national requirements and expectations have complicated this objective. Organizations have the challenge of purchasing products from suppliers throughout the world and at all levels of the supply chain. Suppliers have the challenge of delivering products to multiple customers having varying quality requirements and expectations.

Industry has established the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), with representatives from companies in the Americas, Asia/Pacific and Europe, to implement initiatives that make significant improvements in quality and reductions in cost throughout the value stream. This standard has been prepared by the IAQG.

This document standardizes quality management system requirements to the greatest extent possible and can be used at all levels of the supply chain by organizations around the world. Its use should result in improved quality, schedule and cost performance by the reduction or elimination of organization-unique requirements and wider application of good practice. While primarily developed for the aviation, space and defense industry, this standard can also be used in other industry sectors where a quality management system with additional requirements over an ISO 9001 system is needed.

REVISION SUMMARY/RATIONALE

This standard has been revised to incorporate the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. In addition, industry requirements, definitions and notes have been revised and additional requirements have been included in response to stakeholder needs.

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INTRODUCTION

0.1 General

The adoption of a quality management system should be a strategic decision of an organization. The design and implementation of an organization‘s quality management system is influenced by

a) its organizational environment, changes in that environment, and the risks associated with that environment,

b) its varying needs,

c) its particular objectives,

d) the products it provides,

e) the processes it employs,

f) its size and organizational structure.

It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply uniformity in the structure of quality management systems or uniformity of documentation.

The quality management system requirements specified in this International Standard are complementary to requirements for products. Information marked “NOTE” is for guidance in understanding or clarifying the associated requirement.

This International Standard can be used by internal and external parties, including certification bodies, to assess the organization's ability to meet customer, statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the product, and the organization's own requirements.

The quality management principles stated in ISO 9000 and ISO 9004 have been taken into consideration during the development of this International Standard.

0.2 Process Approach

This International Standard promotes the adoption of a process approach when developing, implementing and improving the effectiveness of a quality management system, to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.

For an organization to function effectively, it has to determine and manage numerous linked activities. An activity or set of activities using resources, and managed in order to enable the transformation of inputs into outputs, can be considered as a process. Often the output from one process directly forms the input to the next.

The application of a system of processes within an organization, together with the identification and interactions of these processes, and their management to produce the desired outcome, can be referred to as the “process approach”.

An advantage of the process approach is the ongoing control that it provides over the linkage between the individual processes within the system of processes, as well as over their combination and interaction.

When used within a quality management system, such an approach emphasizes the importance of

a) understanding and meeting requirements,

b) the need to consider processes in terms of added value,

c) obtaining results of process performance and effectiveness, and

d) continual improvement of processes based on objective measurement.

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The model of a process-based quality management system shown in Figure 1 illustrates the process linkages presented in Clauses 4 to 8. This illustration shows that customers play a significant role in defining requirements as inputs.

Monitoring of customer satisfaction requires the evaluation of information relating to customer perception as to whether the organization has met the customer requirements. The model shown in Figure 1 covers all the requirements of this International Standard, but does not show processes at a detailed level.

NOTE In addition, the methodology known as “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) can be applied to all processes. PDCA can be briefly described as follows.

Plan: establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with customer requirements and the organization's policies.

Do: implement the processes.

Check: monitor and measure processes and product against policies, objectives and requirements for the product and report the results.

Act: take actions to continually improve process performance.

FIGURE 1 - MODEL OF A PROCESS-BASED QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

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QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - REQUIREMENTS

1. SCOPE

1.1 General

This standard includes ISO 9001:20081 quality management system requirements and specifies additional aviation, space and defense industry requirements, definitions and notes as shown in bold, italic text.

It is emphasized that the requirements specified in this standard are complementary (not alternative) to contractual and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Should there be a conflict between the requirements of this standard and applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, the latter shall take precedence.

This International Standard specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization

a) needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and

b) aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

NOTE 1 In this International Standard, the term “product” only applies to

a) product intended for, or required by, a customer,

b) any intended output resulting from the product realization processes.

NOTE 2 Statutory and regulatory requirements can be expressed as legal requirements.

1.2 Application

All requirements of this International Standard are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size and product provided.

Where any requirement(s) of this International Standard cannot be applied due to the nature of an organization and its product, this can be considered for exclusion.

Where exclusions are made, claims of conformity to this International Standard are not acceptable unless these exclusions are limited to requirements within Clause 7, and such exclusions do not affect the organization's ability, or responsibility, to provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

This standard is intended for use by organizations that design, develop and/or produce aviation, space and defense products; and by organizations providing post-delivery support, including the provision of maintenance, spare parts or materials for their own products.

Organizations whose primary business is providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aviation commercial and military products; and original equipment manufacturers with maintenance, repair and overhaul operations that operate autonomously, or that are substantially different from their manufacturing/production operations; should use the IAQG-developed 9110 standard (see Bibliography).

1 With the permission of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The complete standard can be obtained from any ISO member or from the ISO Central Secretariat: 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, SWITZERLAND, or visit www.iso.org. Copyright remains with ISO.

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Organizations that procure parts, materials and assemblies and resell these products to a customer in the aviation, space and defense industries, including organizations that procure products and split them into smaller quantities for resale, should use the IAQG-developed 9120 standard (see Bibliography).

2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 9000:2005, Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary

3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 9000 apply.

Throughout the text of this International Standard, wherever the term “product” occurs, it can also mean “service”.

3.1 Risk

An undesirable situation or circumstance that has both a likelihood of occurring and a potentially negative consequence.

3.2 Special Requirements

Those requirements identified by the customer, or determined by the organization, which have high risks to being achieved, thus requiring their inclusion in the risk management process. Factors used in the determination of special requirements include product or process complexity, past experience and product or process maturity. Examples of special requirements include performance requirements imposed by the customer that are at the limit of the industry’s capability, or requirements determined by the organization to be at the limit of its technical or process capabilities.

3.3 Critical Items

Those items (e.g., functions, parts, software, characteristics, processes) having significant effect on the product realization and use of the product; including safety, performance, form, fit, function, producibility, service life, etc.; that require specific actions to ensure they are adequately managed. Examples of critical items include safety critical items, fracture critical items, mission critical items, key characteristics, etc.

3.4 Key Characteristic

An attribute or feature whose variation has a significant effect on product fit, form, function, performance, service life or producibility, that requires specific actions for the purpose of controlling variation.

NOTE Special requirements and critical items are new terms and, along with key characteristics, are interrelated.

Special requirements are identified when determining and reviewing requirements related to the product (see

7.2.1 and 7.2.2). Special requirements can require the identification of critical items. Design output (see 7.3.3) can include identification of critical items that require specific actions to ensure they are adequately managed. Some critical items will be further classified as key characteristics because their variation needs to be controlled.

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4. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

4.1 General Requirements

The organization shall establish, document, implement and maintain a quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard.

The organization’s quality management system shall also address customer and applicable statutory and regulatory quality management system requirements.

The organization shall

a) determine the processes needed for the quality management system and their application throughout the organization (see 1.2),

b) determine the sequence and interaction of these processes,

c) determine criteria and methods needed to ensure that both the operation and control of these processes are effective,

d) ensure the availability of resources and information necessary to support the operation and monitoring of these processes,

e) monitor, measure where applicable, and analyse these processes, and

f) implement actions necessary to achieve planned results and continual improvement of these processes.

These processes shall be managed by the organization in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard.

Where an organization chooses to outsource any process that affects product conformity to requirements, the organization shall ensure control over such processes. The type and extent of control to be applied to these outsourced processes shall be defined within the quality management system.

NOTE 1 Processes needed for the quality management system referred to above include processes for management activities, provision of resources, product realization, measurement, analysis and improvement.

NOTE 2 An “outsourced process” is a process that the organization needs for its quality management system and which the organization chooses to have performed by an external party.

NOTE 3 Ensuring control over outsourced processes does not absolve the organization of the responsibility of conformity to all customer, statutory and regulatory requirements. The type and extent of control to be applied to the outsourced process can be influenced by factors such as

a) the potential impact of the outsourced process on the organization’s capability to provide product that conforms to requirements,

b) the degree to which the control for the process is shared,

c) the capability of achieving the necessary control through the application of 7.4.

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4.2 Documentation Requirements

4.2.1 General

The quality management system documentation shall include

a) documented statements of a quality policy and quality objectives,

b) a quality manual,

c) documented procedures and records required by this International Standard, and

d) documents, including records, determined by the organization to be necessary to ensure the effective planning, operation and control of its processes.

The organization shall ensure that personnel have access to, and are aware of, relevant quality management system documentation and changes.

NOTE 1 Where the term “documented procedure“ appears within this International Standard, this means that the procedure is established, documented, implemented and maintained. A single document may address the requirements for one or more procedures. A requirement for a documented procedure may be covered by more than one document.

NOTE 2 The extent of the quality management system documentation can differ from one organization to another due to

a) the size of organization and type of activities,

b) the complexity of processes and their interactions, and

c) the competence of personnel.

NOTE 3 The documentation can be in any form or type of medium.

4.2.2 Quality Manual

The organization shall establish and maintain a quality manual that includes

a) the scope of the quality management system, including details of and justification for any exclusions (see 1.2),

b) the documented procedures established for the quality management system, or reference to them, and

c) a description of the interaction between the processes of the quality management system.

4.2.3 Control of Documents

Documents required by the quality management system shall be controlled. Records are a special type of document and shall be controlled according to the requirements given in 4.2.4.

A documented procedure shall be established to define the controls needed

a) to approve documents for adequacy prior to issue,

b) to review and update as necessary and re-approve documents,

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d) to ensure that relevant versions of applicable documents are available at points of use,

e) to ensure that documents remain legible and readily identifiable,

f) to ensure that documents of external origin determined by the organization to be necessary for the planning and operation of the quality management system are identified and their distribution controlled, and

g) to prevent the unintended use of obsolete documents, and to apply suitable identification to them if they are retained for any purpose.

4.2.4 Control of Records

Records established to provide evidence of conformity to requirements and of the effective operation of the quality management system shall be controlled.

The organization shall establish a documented procedure to define the controls needed for the identification, storage, protection, retrieval, retention and disposition of records.

The documented procedure shall define the method for controlling records that are created by and/or retained by suppliers.

Records shall remain legible, readily identifiable and retrievable.

5. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

5.1 Management Commitment

Top management shall provide evidence of its commitment to the development and implementation of the quality management system and continually improving its effectiveness by

a) communicating to the organization the importance of meeting customer as well as statutory and regulatory requirements,

b) establishing the quality policy,

c) ensuring that quality objectives are established,

d) conducting management reviews, and

e) ensuring the availability of resources.

5.2 Customer Focus

Top management shall ensure that customer requirements are determined and are met with the aim of enhancing customer satisfaction (see 7.2.1 and 8.2.1).

Top management shall ensure that product conformity and on-time delivery performance are measured and that appropriate action is taken if planned results are not, or will not be, achieved.

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5.3 Quality Policy

Top management shall ensure that the quality policy

a) is appropriate to the purpose of the organization,

b) includes a commitment to comply with requirements and continually improve the effectiveness of the quality management system,

c) provides a framework for establishing and reviewing quality objectives,

d) is communicated and understood within the organization, and

e) is reviewed for continuing suitability.

5.4 Planning

5.4.1 Quality Objectives

Top management shall ensure that quality objectives, including those needed to meet requirements for product [see 7.1 a)], are established at relevant functions and levels within the organization. The quality objectives shall be measurable and consistent with the quality policy.

5.4.2 Quality Management System Planning

Top management shall ensure that

a) the planning of the quality management system is carried out in order to meet the requirements given in 4.1, as well as the quality objectives, and

b) the integrity of the quality management system is maintained when changes to the quality management system are planned and implemented.

5.5 Responsibility, Authority and Communication

5.5.1 Responsibility and Authority

Top management shall ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and communicated within the organization.

5.5.2 Management Representative

Top management shall appoint a member of the organization’s management who, irrespective of other responsibilities, shall have responsibility and authority that includes

a) ensuring that processes needed for the quality management system are established, implemented and maintained,

b) reporting to top management on the performance of the quality management system and any need for improvement,

c) ensuring the promotion of awareness of customer requirements throughout the organization, and

d) the organizational freedom and unrestricted access to top management to resolve quality management issues.

NOTE The responsibility of a management representative can include liaison with external parties on matters relating to the quality management system.

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5.5.3 Internal Communication

Top management shall ensure that appropriate communication processes are established within the organization and that communication takes place regarding the effectiveness of the quality management system.

5.6 Management Review

5.6.1 General

Top management shall review the organization's quality management system, at planned intervals, to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. This review shall include assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes to the quality management system, including the quality policy and quality objectives.

Records from management reviews shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

5.6.2 Review Input

The input to management review shall include information on

a) results of audits,

b) customer feedback,

c) process performance and product conformity,

d) status of preventive and corrective actions,

e) follow-up actions from previous management reviews,

f) changes that could affect the quality management system, and

g) recommendations for improvement.

5.6.3 Review Output

The output from the management review shall include any decisions and actions related to

a) improvement of the effectiveness of the quality management system and its processes,

b) improvement of product related to customer requirements, and

c) resource needs.

6. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

6.1 Provision of Resources

The organization shall determine and provide the resources needed

a) to implement and maintain the quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness, and

b) to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.

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6.2 Human Resources

6.2.1 General

Personnel performing work affecting conformity to product requirements shall be competent on the basis of appropriate education, training, skills and experience.

NOTE Conformity to product requirements can be affected directly or indirectly by personnel performing any task within the quality management system.

6.2.2 Competence, Training and Awareness

The organization shall

a) determine the necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting conformity to product requirements,

b) where applicable, provide training or take other actions to achieve the necessary competence,

c) evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken,

d) ensure that its personnel are aware of the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives, and

e) maintain appropriate records of education, training, skills and experience (see 4.2.4).

6.3 Infrastructure

The organization shall determine, provide and maintain the infrastructure needed to achieve conformity to product requirements. Infrastructure includes, as applicable,

a) buildings, workspace and associated utilities,

b) process equipment (both hardware and software), and

c) supporting services (such as transport, communication or information systems).

6.4 Work Environment

The organization shall determine and manage the work environment needed to achieve conformity to product requirements.

NOTE The term "work environment" relates to those conditions under which work is performed including physical, environmental and other factors (such as noise, temperature, humidity, lighting or weather).

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7. PRODUCT REALIZATION

7.1 Planning of Product Realization

The organization shall plan and develop the processes needed for product realization. Planning of product realization shall be consistent with the requirements of the other processes of the quality management system (see 4.1).

In planning product realization, the organization shall determine the following, as appropriate:

a) quality objectives and requirements for the product;

NOTE Quality objectives and requirements for the product include consideration of aspects such as

- product and personal safety,

- reliability, availability and maintainability,

- producibility and inspectability,

- suitability of parts and materials used in the product,

- selection and development of embedded software, and

- recycling or final disposal of the product at the end of its life.

b) the need to establish processes and documents, and to provide resources specific to the product;

c) required verification, validation, monitoring, measurement, inspection and test activities specific to the product and the criteria for product acceptance;

d) records needed to provide evidence that the realization processes and resulting product meet requirements (see 4.2.4);

e) configuration management appropriate to the product;

f) resources to support the use and maintenance of the product.

The output of this planning shall be in a form suitable for the organization's method of operations.

NOTE 1 A document specifying the processes of the quality management system (including the product realization processes) and the resources to be applied to a specific product, project or contract can be referred to as a quality plan.

NOTE 2 The organization may also apply the requirements given in 7.3 to the development of product realization processes.

7.1.1 Project Management

As appropriate to the organization and the product, the organization shall plan and manage product realization in a structured and controlled manner to meet requirements at acceptable risk, within resource and schedule constraints.

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7.1.2 Risk Management

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process for managing risk to the achievement of applicable requirements, that includes as appropriate to the organization and the product

a) assignment of responsibilities for risk management,

b) definition of risk criteria (e.g., likelihood, consequences, risk acceptance),

c) identification, assessment and communication of risks throughout product realization,

d) identification, implementation and management of actions to mitigate risks that exceed the defined risk acceptance criteria, and

e) acceptance of risks remaining after implementation of mitigating actions.

7.1.3 Configuration Management

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a configuration management process that includes, as appropriate to the product

a) configuration management planning,

b) configuration identification,

c) change control,

d) configuration status accounting, and

e) configuration audit.

NOTE See ISO 10007 for guidance.

7.1.4 Control of Work Transfers

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process to plan and control the temporary or permanent transfer of work (e.g., from one organization facility to another, from the organization to a supplier, from one supplier to another supplier) and to verify the conformity of the work to requirements.

7.2 Customer-Related Processes

7.2.1 Determination of Requirements Related to the Product

The organization shall determine

a) requirements specified by the customer, including the requirements for delivery and post-delivery activities,

b) requirements not stated by the customer but necessary for specified or intended use, where known,

c) statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the product, and

d) any additional requirements considered necessary by the organization.

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NOTE Requirements related to the product can include special requirements.

NOTE Post-delivery activities include, for example, actions under warranty provisions, contractual obligations such as maintenance services, and supplementary services such as recycling or final disposal.

7.2.2 Review of Requirements Related to the Product

The organization shall review the requirements related to the product. This review shall be conducted prior to the organization's commitment to supply a product to the customer (e.g. submission of tenders, acceptance of contracts or orders, acceptance of changes to contracts or orders) and shall ensure that

a) product requirements are defined,

b) contract or order requirements differing from those previously expressed are resolved,

c) the organization has the ability to meet the defined requirements,

d) special requirements of the product are determined, and

e) risks (e.g., new technology, short delivery time frame) have been identified (see 7.1.2).

Records of the results of the review and actions arising from the review shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

Where the customer provides no documented statement of requirement, the customer requirements shall be confirmed by the organization before acceptance.

Where product requirements are changed, the organization shall ensure that relevant documents are amended and that relevant personnel are made aware of the changed requirements.

NOTE In some situations, such as internet sales, a formal review is impractical for each order. Instead the review can cover relevant product information such as catalogues or advertising material.

7.2.3 Customer Communication

The organization shall determine and implement effective arrangements for communicating with customers in relation to

a) product information,

b) enquiries, contracts or order handling, including amendments, and

c) customer feedback, including customer complaints.

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SAE AS9100C Page 18 of 33

7.3 Design and Development

7.3.1 Design and Development Planning

The organization shall plan and control the design and development of product.

During the design and development planning, the organization shall determine

a) the design and development stages,

b) the review, verification and validation that are appropriate to each design and development stage, and

c) the responsibilities and authorities for design and development.

Where appropriate, the organization shall divide the design and development effort into distinct activities and, for each activity, define the tasks, necessary resources, responsibilities, design content, input and output data and planning constraints.

The different design and development tasks to be carried out shall be based on the safety and functional objectives of the product in accordance with customer, statutory and regulatory requirements.

Design and development planning shall consider the ability to produce, inspect, test and maintain the product.

The organization shall manage the interfaces between different groups involved in design and development to ensure effective communication and clear assignment of responsibility.

Planning output shall be updated, as appropriate, as the design and development progresses.

NOTE Design and development review, verification and validation have distinct purposes. They can be conducted and recorded separately or in any combination as suitable for the product and the organization.

7.3.2 Design and Development Inputs

Inputs relating to product requirements shall be determined and records maintained (see 4.2.4). These inputs shall include

a) functional and performance requirements,

b) applicable statutory and regulatory requirements,

c) where applicable, information derived from previous similar designs, and

d) other requirements essential for design and development.

The inputs shall be reviewed for adequacy. Requirements shall be complete, unambiguous and not in conflict with each other.

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SAE AS9100C Page 19 of 33

7.3.3 Design and Development Outputs

The outputs of design and development shall be in a form suitable for verification against the design and development input and shall be approved prior to release.

Design and development outputs shall

a) meet the input requirements for design and development,

b) provide appropriate information for purchasing, production and service provision,

c) contain or reference product acceptance criteria,

d) specify the characteristics of the product that are essential for its safe and proper use, and

e) specify, as applicable, any critical items, including any key characteristics, and specific actions to be taken for these items.

The organization shall define the data required to allow the product to be identified, manufactured, inspected, used and maintained; including for example

- the drawings, part lists and specifications necessary to define the configuration and the design features of the product, and

- the material, process, manufacturing and assembly data needed to ensure conformity of the product.

NOTE Information for production and service provision can include details for the preservation of product.

7.3.4 Design and Development Review

At suitable stages, systematic reviews of design and development shall be performed in accordance with planned arrangements (see 7.3.1)

a) to evaluate the ability of the results of design and development to meet requirements,

b) to identify any problems and propose necessary actions, and

c) to authorize progression to the next stage.

Participants in such reviews shall include representatives of functions concerned with the design and development stage(s) being reviewed. Records of the results of the reviews and any necessary actions shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

7.3.5 Design and Development Verification

Verification shall be performed in accordance with planned arrangements (see 7.3.1) to ensure that the design and development outputs have met the design and development input requirements. Records of the results of the verification and any necessary actions shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

7.3.6 Design and Development Validation

Design and development validation shall be performed in accordance with planned arrangements (see 7.3.1) to ensure that the resulting product is capable of meeting the requirements for the specified application or intended use, where known. Wherever practicable, validation shall be completed prior to the delivery or implementation of the product.

Records of the results of validation and any necessary actions shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

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SAE AS9100C Page 20 of 33

7.3.6.1 Design and Development Verification and Validation Testing

Where tests are necessary for verification and validation, these tests shall be planned, controlled, reviewed and documented to ensure and prove the following

a) test plans or specifications identify the product being tested and the resources being used, define test objectives and conditions, parameters to be recorded and relevant acceptance criteria,

b) test procedures describe the method of operation, the performance of the test and the recording of the results,

c) the correct configuration of the product is submitted for the test,

d) the requirements of the test plan and the test procedures are observed, and

e) the acceptance criteria are met.

7.3.6.2 Design and Development Verification and Validation Documentation

At the completion of design and/or development, the organization shall ensure that reports, calculations, test results, etc., demonstrate that the product definition meets the specification requirements for all identified operational conditions.

7.3.7 Control of Design and Development Changes

Design and development changes shall be identified and records maintained. The changes shall be reviewed, verified and validated, as appropriate, and approved before implementation. The review of design and development changes shall include evaluation of the effect of the changes on constituent parts and product already delivered. Records of the results of the review of changes and any necessary actions shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

Design and development changes shall be controlled in accordance with the configuration management process (see 7.1.3).

7.4 Purchasing

7.4.1 Purchasing Process

The organization shall ensure that purchased product conforms to specified purchase requirements. The type and extent of control applied to the supplier and the purchased product shall be dependent upon the effect of the purchased product on subsequent product realization or the final product.

The organization shall be responsible for the conformity of all products purchased from suppliers, including product from sources defined by the customer.

The organization shall evaluate and select suppliers based on their ability to supply product in accordance with the organization's requirements. Criteria for selection, evaluation and re-evaluation shall be established. Records of the results of evaluations and any necessary actions arising from the evaluation shall be maintained (see 4.2.4).

NOTE One factor that can be used during supplier selection and evaluation is supplier quality data from objective and reliable external sources, as evaluated by the organization (e.g., information from accredited quality management system or process certification bodies, organization approvals from government authorities). Use of such data would be only one component of an organization’s supplier control process and the organization remains responsible for verifying that purchased product meets specified purchase requirements.

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SAE AS9100C Page 21 of 33

The organization shall

a) maintain a register of its suppliers that includes approval status (e.g., approved, conditional, disapproved) and the scope of the approval (e.g., product type, process family),

b) periodically review supplier performance; the results of these reviews shall be used as a basis for establishing the level of controls to be implemented,

c) define the necessary actions to take when dealing with suppliers that do not meet requirements,

d) ensure where required that both the organization and all suppliers use customer-approved special process sources,

e) define the process, responsibilities and authority for the approval status decision, changes of the approval status and conditions for a controlled use of suppliers depending on the supplier’s approval status, and

f) determine and manage the risk when selecting and using suppliers (see 7.1.2).

7.4.2 Purchasing Information

Purchasing information shall describe the product to be purchased, including, where appropriate

a) requirements for approval of product, procedures, processes and equipment,

b) requirements for qualification of personnel,

c) quality management system requirements,

d) the identification and revision status of specifications, drawings, process requirements, inspection/verification instructions and other relevant technical data,

e) requirements for design, test, inspection, verification (including production process verification), use of statistical techniques for product acceptance, and related instructions for acceptance by the organization, and as applicable critical items including key characteristics,

f) requirements for test specimens (e.g., production method, number, storage conditions) for design approval, inspection/verification, investigation or auditing,

g) requirements regarding the need for the supplier to

- notify the organization of nonconforming product,

- obtain organization approval for nonconforming product disposition,

- notify the organization of changes in product and/or process, changes of suppliers, changes of manufacturing facility location and, where required, obtain organization approval, and

- flow down to the supply chain the applicable requirements including customer requirements,

h) records retention requirements, and

i) right of access by the organization, their customer and regulatory authorities to the applicable areas of all facilities, at any level of the supply chain, involved in the order and to all applicable records.

The organization shall ensure the adequacy of specified purchase requirements prior to their communication to the supplier.

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SAE AS9100C Page 22 of 33

7.4.3 Verification of Purchased Product

The organization shall establish and implement the inspection or other activities necessary for ensuring that purchased product meets specified purchase requirements.

NOTE 1 Customer verification activities performed at any level of the supply chain should not be used by the organization or the supplier as evidence of effective control of quality and does not absolve the organization of its responsibility to provide acceptable product and comply with all requirements.

NOTE 2 Verification activities can include

- obtaining objective evidence of the conformity of the product from the supplier (e.g., accompanying documentation, certificate of conformity, test records, statistical records, process control records),

- inspection and audit at the supplier’s premises,

- review of the required documentation,

- inspection of products upon receipt, and

- delegation of verification to the supplier or supplier certification.

Where purchased product is released for production use pending completion of all required verification activities, it shall be identified and recorded to allow recall and replacement if it is subsequently found that the product does not meet requirements.

Where the organization delegates verification activities to the supplier, the requirements for delegation shall be defined and a register of delegations maintained.

Where the organization or its customer intends to perform verification at the supplier's premises, the organization shall state the intended verification arrangements and method of product release in the purchasing information.

7.5 Production and Service Provision

7.5.1 Control of Production and Service Provision

The organization shall plan and carry out production and service provision under controlled conditions. Controlled conditions shall include, as applicable,

a) the availability of…