Key Requirement of AS9100 – Internal Audits

AS9100 is an aerospace industry quality management system standard that is based on ISO 9001. It is designed to help organizations in the aerospace industry meet the quality requirements of their customers and regulators.

One of the key requirements of AS9100 is that organizations must conduct internal audits of their quality management system on a regular basis. Internal audits are a valuable tool for organizations to identify and address any potential problems with their quality management system.

An AS9100 internal audit is an independent, objective and documented verification activity performed to determine whether the quality management system (QMS) as documented complies with the requirements of AS9100 and whether it is effectively implemented and maintained.

The purpose of an AS9100 internal audit is to:

• Assess the effectiveness of the QMS
• Identify any nonconformities
• Recommend corrective and preventive actions
• Improve the QMS

The scope of an AS9100 internal audit should cover all aspects of the QMS, including:

• Management responsibility
• Resource management
• Product realization
• Measurement, analysis and improvement

The frequency of AS9100 internal audits should be determined by the organization, but should be at least annually.

The results of an AS9100 internal audit should be documented and reported to management. Management should review the audit results and take appropriate action to address any nonconformities.

By conducting regular AS9100 internal audits, organizations can improve the effectiveness of their QMS and ensure that they are meeting the quality requirements of their customers and regulators.

Benefits of AS9100 Internal Audits

There are many benefits to conducting regular AS9100 internal audits, including:

• Improved quality: Internal audits can help organizations to identify and address any potential problems with their quality management system. This can lead to improved quality of products and services.
• Increased customer satisfaction: Customers are more likely to be satisfied with products and services that meet their quality requirements. Internal audits can help organizations to ensure that they are meeting customer quality requirements.
• Reduced costs: Internal audits can help organizations to identify and eliminate unnecessary costs. This can lead to improved profitability.
• Improved compliance: Internal audits can help organizations to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This can help to protect the organization from legal liability.
• Improved employee morale: Employees are more likely to be motivated and engaged when they know that their organization is committed to quality. Internal audits can help to improve employee morale.

If you are an organization in the aerospace industry, it is important to conduct regular AS9100 internal audits. By doing so, you can improve the quality of your products and services, increase customer satisfaction, reduce costs, improve compliance, and improve employee morale.