AS9100C (the latest version) was issued in January of 2009.  However it is not currently possible to be registered/certified to it.  The IAQG (International Aerospace Quality Group) has published a timeline that explains how and when organizations can become certified but this is currently awaiting two activities to be completed.

First, a companion standard AS9101 must be re-published to the D revision.  This standard contains instructions on how AS9100 should be audited and in the C version included a full standard checklist (which is now to be optional).  The substantial changes mean that AS9100C cannot be audited until this standard is published.  Currently this standard is being issued as a draft.  The draft will then need to be reviewed and voted upon.  That process will take many months that will mean it will not be available for final issue until about the end of the first quarter 2010.

Secondly, mandatory training is currently being designed.  This training has been identified by the IAQG as necessary to ensure better and more consistent auditing of AS9100.  A single source designer is about to be identified and when training materials are completed and approved by the IAQG, they will be made available to other training providers to deliver.  At this point, the single training designer has not been identified, materials have not yet been approved or made available for presentation.  It is currently expected that training will be “available” during the first quarter of 2010

If both of these tasks are completed on time then certifications to AS9100C should be possible shortly after.  It is recommended that you don’t plan on until mid to late summer 2010.  Cavendish Scott Intends to provide general training for AS9100C, the mandated AS9100C training and other AS training once these events are more defined.  We also intend to provide AS9100C upgrade materials and tools.

AS9100 is the Aerospace Industry version of ISO 9001. It takes the whole ISO 9001 standard and adds Aerospace specific requirements.  The additional requirements include such things as a requirement for defined processes for configuration control, project management and risk management – as well as many minor clarifications, extensions etc.

AS9100 is controlled by the IAQG (International Aerospace Quality Group) with the aim of strengthening the Aerospace supplier industry.  Their control over the auditing and certification process is such that the auditors tend to be very tough (no soft grading and recording ALL findings).  AS9100 is just as straightforward as ISDO 9001 but just more intense.  If you want to attempt AS9100 be prepared to implement a “tight” system without cutting corners.

No.  Not yet!

Although AS9100C was issued in January, the Aerospace Organizations that control registration to AS have stated that no certificates can be issued to the C version of the standard until they declare.  The problem is that they also want to change the way the standard is audited.  That is controlled by AS9101 currently revision C – AS9101C.  The D version is in a draft (as of Sept 2009) but until it too is released it will not be possible to conduct audits to AS9100C.  There are also substantial changes to AS9101 expected in the D version.  It is expected that the detailed and time consuming checklist is to be removed and that a process “effectiveness” assessment  is going to be introduced.  All of the changes necessitates that even after AS9101D is formally issued, training will be necessary to bring auditors up to speed with the new standard and the auditing approach.  That too will take time.  In an attempt to increase consistency and reliability of the auditing process, sanctioned training is to be introduced.  One organization has been commissioned to generate training material which will then be presented more widely to all AS auditors.  Although this sanctioned training process has already been started, this too will delay the ability of registrars to be able to audit to the new standard.  Best guesses are the moment are “about the end of the first quarter of 2010″.

You can of course update your QMS to the requirements of the new standard at any time.  You must make sure you don”t take out any AS9100B requirements unless you are certain your next audit can be to the C version.  And you should beware of the problems of mixing the requirements of both standards and ending up with a mess.  Careful and precise cross referencing should resolve this issue.   Finally, there is no real advantage in doing this now.