Difference Between AS9120 and AS9100 Certification

Did you know that while AS9100 is widely adopted across the aerospace industry, the AS9120 certification has seen slower adoption? This highlights the distinct roles each standard plays in the aerospace supply chain. Both AS9100 vs AS9120 belong to the same family of quality management standards, but they cater to different segments—AS9100 is for manufacturers, while AS9120 focuses on distributors of aerospace components.

Understanding the key differences between AS9100 v/s AS9120 is crucial for organizations looking to ensure compliance, maintain high-quality processes, and improve operational efficiency. In this blog, we’ll break down the differences between AS9100 and AS9120 to help you determine which certification best aligns with your organization's needs.

AS9120 vs AS9100: What Manufacturers Need to Know About Aerospace Quality Standards

When it comes to quality management standards in the aerospace industry, two key certifications often come up: AS9100 and AS9120. These certifications are both part of the same family of aerospace quality standards, but they serve distinct purposes; hence, understanding the differences between AS9100 v/s AS9120 is crucial for your operation.

AS9100 is a widely recognized standard for organizations that design, develop, or manufacture aerospace products and services. On the other hand, AS9120 focuses on distributors of aerospace components and products.

Let’s understand each standard in detail in the table below:

Choosing either AS9100 or AS9120 to simplify compliance, get in touch with BPRHub and leverage the Standard Hub feature to stay aligned with industry standards every step of the way!

Whether you're involved in designing cutting-edge aerospace systems or ensuring the distribution of top-quality parts, both AS9100 and AS9120 offer the frameworks needed for success in the aerospace sector.

Key Similarities Between AS9100 and AS9120

When comparing AS9100 vs AS9120, it's clear that both standards share a strong foundation in aerospace quality management. 

• Both AS9100 and AS9120 certifications are built on the foundation of ISO 9001:2015, ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory compliance within the aerospace industry.
• These certifications emphasize maintaining high standards for operational processes, regardless of the specific role a company plays in the aerospace supply chain.
• AS9100 and AS9120 include aerospace-specific stipulations that enhance safety, traceability, and regulatory compliance beyond the basic ISO 9001:2015 requirements.
• Both standards require companies to maintain rigorous controls over their processes, whether they are manufacturing products or distributing critical components.
• Continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and effective risk management are core principles emphasized by both certifications.
• Organizations are required to proactively identify potential risks, address root causes, and implement corrective actions under both AS9100 and AS9120.

Both AS9100 and AS9120 require extensive documentation to maintain compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory standards.

To simplify your documentation process and stay compliant effortlessly with BPRHub’s Document Hub—your all-in-one solution for AS9100 and AS9120.

To understand which certificate is important for your organization, you need to understand the difference as well.

Understanding the Differences Between AS9100 and AS9120 for Manufacturers

While both AS9100 vs AS9120 share common foundations based on ISO 9001:2015, AS9100 includes several clauses that are not part of AS9120. These differences stem from the specific needs of the aerospace manufacturing sector versus the distribution sector. Let's take a closer look at the key clauses that were added in AS9100 but not included in AS9120.

1. Operational Risk Management

AS9100 includes a clause (8.1.1) on operational risk management, which requires organizations to identify and manage risks that could impact product quality and safety throughout their operations. This clause was not included in AS9120. In AS9120, the same clause is labeled as “(not used)” with no requirements text. This is because operational risk management is particularly important for manufacturers, who must control risks in production processes, while distributors generally don’t face the same level of risk exposure.

2. Product Safety

Product safety is another critical area covered in AS9100 but not in AS9120. AS9100 requires manufacturers to implement processes that ensure the safety of their products, addressing risks that could harm users or stakeholders. This is not a requirement for distributors, as they are not directly involved in product design or safety verification. Therefore, AS9120 does not include a specific clause for product safety, and Clause 8.1.3 is marked as “(not used)” to maintain a consistent clause numbering between the two standards.

3. Design Verification and Validation Tests

AS9100 also includes requirements for design verification and validation tests (Clause 8.3), which are essential for manufacturers to ensure that their products meet all design specifications and performance criteria. This clause is not relevant to distributors who do not engage in product design. As such, AS9120 omits this requirement, focusing instead on the distribution processes and ensuring that products are handled, stored, and delivered with the necessary traceability and quality control.

4. Configuration Management

Configuration management is another clause in AS9100 that was not included in AS9120. This clause, critical for manufacturers, ensures that the configuration of aerospace products is managed and maintained throughout the product lifecycle. Distributors who deal with finished products, rather than developing or manufacturing them are not required to implement configuration management processes as part of AS9120.

5. Change Control for Design

AS9100 includes a specific clause on change control for design (Clause 8.2.3) to ensure that any changes made during product design and manufacturing are systematically reviewed and controlled. This is vital for maintaining product integrity and safety. AS9120, however, does not include this requirement, as distributors are not involved in making design changes. Their focus is primarily on ensuring the accuracy and quality of the products they distribute.

These differences highlight the distinct roles that AS9100 and AS9120 play within the aerospace supply chain, but achieving certification requires dedicated effort over time. Tools like BPRHub can significantly reduce the burden by streamlining compliance processes and ensuring continuous alignment with industry standards. Let’s explore how it works.

Achieve Seamless Compliance with AS9120 and AS9100 Using BPRHub

Meeting the stringent requirements of AS9100 vs AS9120 certifications can be challenging for organizations in the aerospace industry. This is where BPRHub comes in. Designed to simplify compliance, BPRHub provides an intuitive platform tailored for organizations aiming to meet aerospace standards. With features like Audit Hub, you can streamline internal and external audits, ensuring that every process aligns with certification requirements. 

The platform’s process-ready documents reduce the burden of creating detailed documentation from scratch, offering pre-built templates that cover everything from operational workflows to risk assessments.

BPRHub is equipped with automated updates and real-time notification systems, ensuring all stakeholders are instantly informed of any document changes and updates. This ensures that your organization stays continuously compliant without the risk of overlooking any critical requirements.

Stay effortlessly compliant with AS9100 and AS9120—let BPRHub handle the details so you can focus on what matters most!

FAQ’s

1. What is the main difference between AS9100 and AS9120?
Ans: AS9100 applies to organizations involved in the design, development, or manufacturing of aerospace products, while AS9120 is specifically for distributors of aerospace components and products. AS9100 focuses on production processes, while AS9120 focuses on the traceability and management of parts within the supply chain.

2. Can a company be certified for both AS9100 and AS9120?
Ans: Yes, a company can be certified for both AS9100 and AS9120 if it engages in both manufacturing and distribution activities within the aerospace sector. However, each certification will apply to different aspects of the organization’s operations.

3. How does BPRHub help with AS9100 and AS9120 compliance?

Ans: BPRHub simplifies the compliance process with real-time updates, automated notifications, and tools for streamlined audits and document management. It ensures that all aspects of your operations, whether manufacturing or distribution, meet the requirements for AS9100 and AS9120 certification.

4. What is AS9120 certification?

Ans: AS9120 is a quality management standard specifically for aerospace distributors. It focuses on ensuring the traceability, quality, and regulatory compliance of aerospace components throughout the supply chain, aligning with ISO 9001:2015 while adding aerospace-specific requirements for distribution processes.

5. Is AS9102 part of AS9100?

Ans: No, AS9102 is not part of AS9100. While both are aerospace quality standards, AS9102 specifically focuses on First Article Inspection (FAI) requirements, which are essential for validating new or modified products. In contrast, AS9100 covers broader quality management principles for design, development, and manufacturing within the aerospace industry.