Useful links

  • COVID-19 ADS Hub (link)
  • State aid manual (link)
  • ASTM International have provided access to standards to produce essential PPE equipment (link to gain access)

Common Standards for Certification

SC21 objectives

The SC21 expectation is that all members will gain certification to AS/JISQ/EN9100 (or applicable standard) and that this shall be flowed throughout the supply chain.

Customer Expectations

Certification to AS/JISQ/EN9100 and Nadcap is increasingly becoming an international customer contractual requirement and is often used as a discriminator during supplier selection.

What is the AS/JISQ/EN9100 Standard?

It specifies quality management system requirements for the aerospace & defence industry and is the model for quality in design, development, production, installation and servicing in the industry.

The highest quality and standards in production are of critical importance to the UK aerospace and defence supply chain. Certification and quality management audits have emerged as the methods of ensuring safety and reliability standards are met. A company supplying to more than one company could face numerous quality audits and checks to satisfy each customer, this results in unnecessary audit duplication. SC21 companies have agreed to cut the number of audits through the recognition of quality system certification based on international standards. UK supply chains that have achieved AS/JISQ/EN 9100 and Nadcap approval for special processes where applicable, will not receive further quality system audits from customers who are part of SC21. Companies with AS/JISQ/EN 9100 approval have experienced significantly reduced levels of auditing compared with those that have not achieved approval.

The AS/JISQ/EN 9100 standard was originally developed as the quality management system standard for aerospace by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and is fully supported globally by all the major aerospace prime manufacturers. To be recognised as having attained this standard a company needs to obtain certification from an accredited third party certification body. These organisations are covered by an industry oversight programme administered in the UK by the SBAC, with experienced quality audit professionals from UK industry undertaking the oversight audits. The UK scheme is in turn subject to oversight as part of an international process directed by the IAQG. Companies certified to AS/JISQ/EN 9100 are entered onto an international database, identified as the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (OASIS), with more than 1000+ UK aerospace sites already registered.

What is the Nadcap Standard?

Nadcap The internationally recognised Nadcap system of special process audits is the recommendation for special process assessment. A growing number of major primes are now requiring Nadcap approval(s), which is overseen by the Performance Research Institute (PRI), based in the US with an office in the UK, using experienced special process professionals. Processes covered by this approach include:

  • Chemical Processing
  • Coatings
  • Composites
  • Distributors
  • Elastomer Seals
  • Electronics
  • Fluid Distribution Systems
  • Heat Treatment
  • Materials Testing Laboratory
  • Non Destructive Testing
  • Nonconventional Machining and Surface Enhancement
  • Sealants
  • Welding
  • With other special processes being progressively added

Guide to AS/JISQ/EN9100

Background

As an important part of the SC21 programme, quality is a critical element and performance area. The promotion of common industry standards is an important principle and objective to focus on. The global certification standard for the aerospace, defence and space sector is AS/JISQ/EN9100.

The AS/JISQ/EN9100 standard is based on ISO9001 quality management system requirements and specifies additional requirements for the aerospace, defence and space sector.

ADS objectives

ADS’s expectation is that all SC21 members will gain recognised certification to AS/JISQ/EN9100 (or equivalent) and that this expectation shall be flowed throughout the supply chain.

Customer expectations

Certification to AS/JISQ/EN9100 is increasingly becoming a customer contractual requirement . It can be used as a discriminator in supplier selection and also in support of supplier approval activities.

Benefits

  • Certification to AS/JISQ/EN9100 (or equivalent) is recognised by customers
  • Companies certified to AS/JISQ/EN9100 are entered onto the OASIS (online aerospace supplier information system) database
  • Enhanced sense of belonging to the fraternity of recognised quality suppliers.

How to obtain certification to the AS9100 standard

  • Obtain a copy of the latest standard
  • Undertake a quality management system ‘gap analysis’ between ISO9001 and AS/JISQ/EN9100 and address any shortfalls
  • Initiate discussion with an OASIS registered Certification Body who will provide guidance as to the process to be followed.

Further information

Further information on the appropriate standard for certification can be found on:

https://www.sae.org/iaqg/

and with regards UK based accredited Certification Bodies through:

https://members.adsgroup.org.uk/committees/committee/view/id/18

  • OASIS stands for Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (IAQG-OASIS). For more information about this system, please click the link below.
  • OASIS information and login

Guide to Nadcap

Nadcap is an industry-managed approach to conformity assesment that brings together technical experts from both Industry and Government to establish requirements for accreditation, accredit Suppliers and define operational program requirements. This results in a standardized approach to quality assurance and a reduction in redundant auditing throughout the aerospace industry because Prime contractors, Suppliers and Government representatives have joined forces to develop a program that:

  • Established stringent industry consensus standards that satisfy the requirements of all participants
  • Replaces routine auditing of suppliers with one approved through a consensus decision-making process of members from the user community
  • Conducts more-in-depth, technically superior special process audits
  • Improves supplier quality throughout industry through stringent requirements
  • Reduces costs through improved standardization
  • Utilizes technically expert auditors to assure process familairity
  • Provides more frequent audits for Primes, fewer audits for Suppliers.

List of current Nadcap programmes is detailed below:

Special Processes

  • Nondestructive Testing (NDT)
  • Materials Testing (MTL)
  • Heat Treating (HT)
  • Coatings (CT)
  • Chemical Processing (CP)
  • Welding (WLD)
  • Nonconventional Machining & Surface Enhancement (NMSE)

Systems & Products

  • Sealants (SLT)
  • Distributors (DIST)
  • Aerospace Quality Systems (AQS) – AC7004
  • Fluid Distribution Standards (FLU)
  • Elastomer Seals (SEALS)
  • Composites (COMP)
  • Electronics (ETG)

Under Development

  • Fasteners (FAST)

NADCAP PROCESS FLOW

Nadcap process flow chart

Performance Review Institute (PRI) contacts list

A list of contacts can be found on the PRI website. Click here

Nadcap Customer Support Initiative (NCSI)

NCSI is a free, web-based training program designed to walk suppliers through the Nadcap process. The training discusses everything from audit preparation to non-conformance responses, as well as the additional training tools provided by PRI. To be taken to the website click here.

  • NATEP is an Aerospace Growth Partnership initiative led by ADS, the Premier Trade Organisation for companies in the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Sectors. It is a UK-wide programme delivered with the support of Regional Aerospace Alliance (RAA) organisations in England (Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, Midlands Aerospace Alliance, North West Aerospace Alliance and West of England Aerospace Forum) and in the devolved regions by Invest Northern Ireland, Scottish Enterprise and the Welsh Government.
    The programme supports companies in the aerospace supply chain to develop innovative technologies, working in collaboration with others and supported by higher tier companies. It will equip them to win new business with existing customers and to diversify their customer base. As well as grant funding, the programme provides high calibre technical and management resource to help those companies accelerate the technology development towards market readiness
    It is an industry-led programme.  Panels of aerospace industry professionals and technology advisers throughout the English regions, Northern Ireland and Scotland are contributing their time for free to support the projects.  New and innovative product technologies already supported by NATEP will find applications on current and future aircraft platforms. New or improved manufacturing process technologies will enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the UK aerospace manufacturing sector as well as finding applications in other industry sectors such as Energy, Automotive or Rail.
  • NATEP website

  • JOSCAR is an accreditation system for the aerospace, defence and security sectors.
    The system was established following an initiative led by ADS Group and includes a growing number of prime contractors as registered buyers. A cross-sector collaborative solution which reduces time, cost, resources and duplication currently needed to provide information to major customers.  Holding common supplier data in a central system, the JOSCAR accreditation system allows information to be accessed by all participating buying organisations. For information about how to join JOSCAR as a supplier please contact Hellios on 01865 959 110 or email info@hellios.com.
  • JOSCAR login