AS9100 Clause 6 – Planning

AS9100 is a widely adopted quality management system (QMS) standard for the aerospace industry. It is based on ISO 9001 but includes additional requirements specific to aerospace. Clause 6 of the AS9100 standard deals with planning and is divided into two main sections: 6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities and 6.2 Quality objectives and planning to achieve them.

6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities

This section requires organizations to establish processes for identifying and addressing risks and opportunities related to the QMS. The purpose is to ensure that the QMS can achieve its intended results, prevent undesirable effects, and achieve continual improvement. The organization should:

a) Identify the risks and opportunities that need to be addressed to give assurance that the QMS can achieve its intended results.

b) Plan actions to address the identified risks and opportunities, and integrate those actions into the QMS processes.

c) Evaluate the effectiveness of these actions.

6.2 Quality objectives and planning to achieve them

This section focuses on establishing and maintaining quality objectives at relevant levels within the organization. The quality objectives should be:

a) Consistent with the quality policy.

b) Measurable.

c) Relevant to the conformity of products and services and the enhancement of customer satisfaction.

d) Monitored, communicated, and updated as needed.

To achieve these objectives, the organization must:

1. Determine what will be done, including the necessary resources.
2. Determine who will be responsible for the activities.
3. Determine when the activities will be completed.
4. Determine how the results will be evaluated and reported.

By following the guidelines set forth in Clause 6 of AS9100, organizations can effectively plan their QMS, identify and address risks and opportunities, and set and achieve quality objectives to improve overall performance in the aerospace industry.