AS9100 Clause 8.1 – Operational Planning and Control

AS9100 8.1 Operational Planning and Control requires organizations to plan and control their operational processes in order to ensure that they meet the requirements of their customers and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This includes:

• Determining the requirements for products and services. Organizations must ensure that they have a clear understanding of the requirements for their products and services, including any applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This information can be obtained from a variety of sources, such as customer contracts, specifications, and drawings.
• Establishing criteria for processes and products. Once the requirements for products and services have been determined, organizations must establish criteria for their processes and products. These criteria should be measurable and objective, and they should be used to ensure that products and services meet the requirements.
• Establishing resources needed to achieve conformity. Organizations must ensure that they have the resources needed to achieve conformity to the requirements for their products and services. This includes resources such as people, equipment, and materials.
• Controlling processes in accordance with established criteria. Organizations must control their processes in accordance with the established criteria. This includes monitoring and measuring processes, taking corrective action when necessary, and maintaining records of the results of monitoring and measurement.
• Controlling outsourced processes. If an organization outsources any of its processes, it must ensure that the outsourced processes are controlled in accordance with the organization’s quality management system.

AS9100 8.1 Operational Planning and Control is an important requirement that helps organizations to ensure that their products and services meet the requirements of their customers and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

By following the requirements of AS9100 8.1, organizations can improve their quality management system and reduce the risk of nonconformity.

Here are some additional tips for complying with AS9100 8.1 Operational Planning and Control:

• Involve all relevant stakeholders in the planning process. This includes customers, suppliers, and internal employees.
• Use a risk-based approach to planning. Identify and assess the risks to product and service conformity, and take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.
• Make sure that your planning is documented and communicated to all relevant staff. This will help to ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities in ensuring product and service conformity.
• Review and update your planning on a regular basis. This will ensure that your planning is still relevant and effective in meeting the changing needs of your organization and your customers.