Reliability and quality are crucial for metal castings, especially in the military and aerospace industries. When you partner with an AS9100-certified foundry, you can feel confident that you’re getting high-quality parts you can depend on. This quality management system (QMS) is used across the aerospace industry, ensuring that all products consistently deliver safety and high performance.
This article explains AS9100 certification, how it differs from ISO 9001 and the benefits of partnering with an AS9100-certified foundry.
What Is AS9100 Certification?
AS9100 is a standard created specifically for the aerospace industry. The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) worked alongside aviation, space and defense-related sectors to develop a quality standard to define industry-wide best practices. AS9100 guides all levels of a supply chain — it describes a product’s consistent performance in quality, cost and delivery.
For buyers in aerospace and defense, AS9100 certification gives assurance that a supplier always uses these best practices in their processes to deliver high-quality products. The standard is more than a regulation to follow — it’s a culture of quality that runs through an entire organization. From design to final inspection, AS9100 helps companies meticulously control and document each step and reduce errors.
AS9100 vs. ISO 9001
Like AS9100, ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for quality management systems. It focuses on customer satisfaction, continuous improvement and consistent product quality.
You can think of AS9100 as ISO 9001 but with additional requirements specifically for the aerospace industry. Because AS9100 builds upon ISO 9001 standards, holding the AS9100 certification automatically means a company is also ISO 9001-certified. Both are about improving quality, but AS9100 addresses the unique challenges and stricter rules of aerospace, covering everything from managing risks to controlling processes when building products. Some requirements include:
- Extra-detailed configuration management: Keeping tighter control over all aspects of the product design.
- Special risk management: Identifying and tackling potential problems before they even happen.
- Life cycle product management: Keeping a close eye on the product from beginning to end.
- Supplier approval: Ensuring all products meet the supplier’s highest standards.
- Counterfeit part prevention: Keeping fake parts out of the supply chain.
- On-time delivery focus: Getting parts where they need to be, when they need to be there.
AS9100 quality standards are more focused on preventing defects and quickly fixing any issues that could occur. The end goal is safer, more reliable aerospace parts. They also help companies understand what the customer needs and design products that meet those needs, accounting for risks that could occur in the product’s life cycle.
In short, AS9100 is more demanding and made specifically for aerospace, while ISO 9001 is broader and applicable across many industries.
Benefits of Partnering With an AS9100-Certified Company
A company that is AS9100-certified has built and maintained the highest quality standards, ensuring its products meet aerospace demands. So, when you partner with an AS9100 supplier, you can have peace of mind that you’re getting products from a company that is continuously improving and delivering products that meet or exceed your expectations. Top benefits include:
High-Quality Products
AS9100 certification means the company you choose is established and has a strong QMS in place. If you’re sourcing aerospace parts, you can have more confidence knowing the products you get are built specifically for high aerospace standards and demands. Each casting will meet your specifications and performance expectations — there will be no compromise on quality.
Streamlined Inspection Process
For anyone in the aerospace or military industry, AS9100 certification implies the inspection process. By following AS9100 quality standards, your supplier will make sure your product undergoes a thorough check, saving you time and resources.
Reduced Risk
AS9100 certification means a company focuses on managing risks from start to finish. You benefit from the company’s proactive approach to finding and mitigating potential risks through the manufacturing process. Being certified means less chance of defects, delays or other problems that could affect your project.
Improved Reliability
AS9100 certification is about process control and continuous improvement. It allows you to get the most reliable, consistently performing products without worrying about the risk of failure. Ultimately, you can have greater peace of mind knowing you can rely on your products and your systems’ overall performance.
Enhanced Traceability
AS9100 requires constant documentation and traceability through every step of the manufacturing process. The company will quickly find any issues and address them immediately or even before they become problems. Therefore, you get products that meet the highest safety and quality standards for your industry.
Commitment to Customer Satisfaction
AS9100 certification also demonstrates a strong dedication to customer satisfaction. It’s about working closely with each customer, understanding their unique requirements and meeting or exceeding their needs. AS9100-certified companies also make sure products are delivered when needed.
Access to a Trusted Supplier
AS9100 certification is a mark of excellence recognized and respected throughout the aerospace industry. By choosing a company with this certification, you get access to a trusted supplier with a proven track record of delivering quality products and services.
Why Choose Warner Brothers Foundry Company
Warner Brothers Foundry Company is AS9100-certified and dedicated to delivering metal castings that meet your exact needs. Always monitoring and improving our processes, we stay ahead of the curve to give you the most effective solutions for your industry. Our manufacturers go beyond a visual check, focusing on four key areas of quality standards when testing our castings:
- Degrees of soundness: We visually inspect for imperfections like cracks, porosity, bends and distortions.
- Mechanical properties: We run strength and ductility tests.
- Tolerance: We check for dimensional variations that could affect the part’s function.
- Chemical properties: We ensure the part meets aluminum alloy standards.
Warner Brothers Foundry Company uses aluminum sand casting, which offers high strength-to-weight ratios, exceptional corrosion resistance and thermal management. We are also ITAR and SAM registered, delivering quality aluminum, bronze, brass or copper alloy products for government and military applications.
Choose Castings From Warner Brothers Foundry Company
AS9100 certification means a company manufactures only the highest-quality parts for the aerospace industry. When you’re ready to elevate your metal casting standards, turn to Warner Brothers Foundry Company. We deliver superior non-ferrous castings, providing products you can depend on.
With our expertise in aluminum alloys and cast aluminum, you can be confident you’re getting reliable, durable and weight-efficient solutions. We manufacture everything from structural components to intricate mechanical parts and everything in between. Our unique process allows us to provide better quality and delivery times. We guarantee our quality every time and replace any defective castings at no charge.
Don’t compromise on quality — partner with a foundry that understands just how critical AS9100 certification really is. Contact us today for a quote on your next project.
