AS9100 Clause 8.3.3 – Design and Development Inputs

AS9100 is a widely adopted and standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry. It incorporates the entirety of ISO 9001 and includes additional requirements addressing civil & military aviation and aerospace needs.

The section 8.3.3 specifically refers to the “Design and Development Inputs” stage of the product development process. Below is an explanation of this:

Design and Development Inputs: These are the requirements or specifications that the new product should fulfill. The inputs must be comprehensive, clear, and complete to ensure that the new product meets all the required specifications and quality standards.

The standard generally requires that:

1. Inputs are identified, documented, and reviewed for adequacy.
2. Requirements shall be complete, unambiguous, and not in conflict with each other.
3. Consideration to functional and performance requirements.
4. Mandatory and statutory regulations should be incorporated into the inputs.
5. Potential consequences of failure due to the nature of the products, including safety and regulatory aspects.
6. Where applicable, information derived from previous similar design and development.
7. Other requirements essential for design and development.

The company has to provide evidence that these inputs were all considered and incorporated in the product design and development. This could be in the form of documented information that defines these inputs and any changes, a record of the review of these inputs, and actions arising from the review.

Design and Development Inputs can involve requirements specified by the customer, standards or regulations required by law, and any internal requirements that the company may have. These inputs then guide the design and development process to ensure that the final product meets the desired requirements.