AS9100 Clause 9 Explained

What is AS9100 Clause 9 About?

AS9100 Clause 9 pertains to “Performance Evaluation” within a quality management system (QMS) according to the AS9100 standard. This clause outlines requirements related to monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of the QMS to ensure its effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

Here are the key elements covered in Clause 9:

Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis, and Evaluation (MMAE):

This section emphasizes the importance of establishing processes for systematically monitoring, measuring, analyzing, and evaluating the performance of the QMS. The objective is to determine whether the QMS is achieving its intended outcomes and conforming to the requirements of AS9100.

Customer Satisfaction:

AS9100 requires organizations to monitor and measure customer satisfaction as one of the key indicators of QMS performance. This involves gathering feedback from customers, analyzing trends, and taking appropriate actions to address any issues or opportunities for improvement.

Internal Audit:

The standard mandates conducting internal audits at planned intervals to assess the conformity and effectiveness of the QMS. Internal audits help identify non-conformities, evaluate compliance with requirements, and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions.

Management Review:

AS9100 requires top management to conduct periodic reviews of the QMS to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, effectiveness, and alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives. Management reviews provide a forum for assessing QMS performance, reviewing audit results, analyzing data, and making decisions regarding improvement initiatives.

Monitoring and Measurement of Processes:

Organizations are required to monitor and measure key processes within the QMS to ensure they are operating effectively and achieving desired outcomes. This may involve establishing performance indicators, setting targets, and collecting data to track process performance over time.

Monitoring and Measurement of Products and Services:

AS9100 emphasizes the importance of monitoring and measuring product and service conformity to specified requirements. This involves implementing inspection, testing, and validation processes to ensure that products and services meet customer expectations and regulatory standards.

Analysis and Evaluation of Data:

Organizations are required to analyze and evaluate relevant data to provide information on QMS performance, product and service conformity, customer satisfaction, and other key metrics. Data analysis helps identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement.

Management of Non-Conformities:

AS9100 specifies requirements for identifying, documenting, and addressing non-conformities within the QMS. Organizations are required to take corrective and preventive actions to eliminate the root causes of non-conformities and prevent their recurrence.

Overall, Clause 9 of AS9100 focuses on ensuring that organizations have effective processes in place for monitoring, measuring, analyzing, and evaluating the performance of their QMS to drive continual improvement and enhance customer satisfaction.

The AS9100 Clauses:

What are the Differences Between AS9100 Clause 9 and ISO 9001 Clause 9?

AS9100 and ISO 9001 are both quality management system standards, but AS9100 is specific to the aerospace industry while ISO 9001 is a generic standard applicable to any organization in any industry. Clause 9 in both standards deals with performance evaluation.

Here are some key differences between AS9100 Clause 9 and ISO 9001 Clause 9:

Emphasis on Aviation and Aerospace Requirements:

AS9100 Clause 9 includes additional requirements specific to the aerospace industry, such as product safety, counterfeit parts prevention, configuration management, and risk management related to aviation safety.

Risk Management:

While both standards address risk management, AS9100 places a greater emphasis on managing risks related to aviation safety, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and control specific to aerospace products and services.

Product Safety and Configuration Management:

AS9100 places more emphasis on product safety and configuration management compared to ISO 9001. This includes requirements related to identifying and controlling product safety hazards and maintaining configuration management throughout the product lifecycle.

Counterfeit Parts Prevention:

AS9100 includes specific requirements for preventing the use of counterfeit parts in aerospace products, including the establishment of processes for detecting and mitigating the risk of counterfeit parts entering the supply chain.

Supplier Performance Evaluation:

Both standards require organizations to evaluate the performance of their suppliers, but AS9100 may have more stringent requirements due to the critical nature of aerospace components and the need for high reliability and safety.

Customer Satisfaction and On-Time Delivery:

Both standards require organizations to monitor customer satisfaction and on-time delivery performance. However, AS9100 may place additional emphasis on these factors due to the critical nature of aerospace products and the importance of meeting customer requirements and delivery schedules.

While AS9100 Clause 9 shares many similarities with ISO 9001 Clause 9, it includes additional requirements specific to the aerospace industry to ensure the safety, reliability, and quality of aerospace products and services.

How Does a Company Comply with AS9100 Clause 9?

Compliance with AS9100 Clause 9, which focuses on performance evaluation, involves several key steps:

Establishing Performance Metrics:

Define key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to your organization’s processes, products, and services. These metrics should align with the requirements of AS9100 and reflect the organization’s objectives, such as on-time delivery, product quality, customer satisfaction, and supplier performance.

Monitoring and Measuring Performance:

Implement processes to regularly monitor and measure performance against the established metrics. This may involve collecting data, analyzing trends, and identifying areas for improvement. Use appropriate methods and tools for data collection and analysis, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Internal Audits:

Conduct internal audits to assess the effectiveness of the quality management system, including performance evaluation processes. Internal audits help identify non-conformities, areas of improvement, and opportunities for corrective action. Ensure that audits are performed by competent personnel and that findings are documented and addressed promptly.

Management Review:

Hold regular management reviews to evaluate the organization’s performance against AS9100 requirements and strategic objectives. Management reviews provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the quality management system, identify opportunities for improvement, and allocate resources accordingly. Ensure that management reviews are documented, with actions and decisions recorded for follow-up.

Supplier Performance Evaluation:

Evaluate the performance of suppliers and subcontractors to ensure they meet the organization’s quality and performance requirements. Establish criteria for supplier evaluation, such as product quality, delivery performance, responsiveness, and compliance with AS9100 requirements. Communicate expectations to suppliers and maintain records of supplier performance evaluations.

Corrective and Preventive Actions:

Take corrective and preventive actions to address identified non-conformities, performance deficiencies, or opportunities for improvement. Implement corrective actions to eliminate the root cause of problems and prevent recurrence. Likewise, implement preventive actions to mitigate potential risks and improve performance proactively.

Continuous Improvement:

Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the organization by encouraging employees to identify and suggest opportunities for improvement. Implement processes for capturing, evaluating, and implementing improvement ideas across all areas of the organization. Monitor the effectiveness of improvement initiatives and adjust processes as necessary.

Document Control:

Ensure that relevant documentation, including procedures, work instructions, and records related to performance evaluation, are controlled, maintained, and accessible to authorized personnel. Documented information should be accurate, up-to-date, and consistent with AS9100 requirements.

By following these steps and integrating performance evaluation processes into the organization’s quality management system, companies can effectively comply with AS9100 Clause 9 and demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in aerospace quality management.