An AS9100 Consultant Can Aid In Gaining Certification

By Judy Sullivan


The search for the best method to run a company has led to a series of changing approaches that experience great excitement and then fade away, each successive technique leaving its mark on the field. None has had as great an impact as the so called quality movement which made a fundamental and lasting change, and ensured ISO standards acceptance globally. Gaining certification under ISO standards can be daunting however, making an AS9100 consultant a solid investment.

The driving force behind the quality movement in the United States was the successful introduction of foreign products that were becoming increasingly more desirable to Americans than domestic products. Aided by the demand for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles in the wake of the oil crisis, Japanese cars rapidly gained market share, and so did stereo equipment and televisions. The superiority of American manufacturing was under threat.

It is important to realize the initial proponents of this quality centered process were Americans, Doctors W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran working independently. Their ideas were published in the United States as early as 1939 and 1951 respectively, but were largely ignored by American managers. Dr Deming focused on statistical process control, while Dr Juran believed management training was the key.

As US business accepted the notion that consumers were the ones who determined the quality of a product and began to understand that management needed to take a more active role in the actual businesses they run, competitiveness returned. The realization that consistency and engagement with employees, and communities were compatible with success was a fundamental paradigm shift. The idea of standardization in production and service gained acceptance everywhere.

In 1947, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) was formed with the purpose of developing internationally accepted guidelines for production. To facilitate international trade consumers needed assurances that similar products met minimum levels of suitability for purpose. Standardization would accomplish that goal, but gaining acceptance of the guides worldwide was problematic.

In industries like aviation, which enjoyed a great reputation for safety, standardization was essential for competition between carriers. All flying operations were conducted by checklist, ensuring consistent operations internationally. Support functions, however, were conducted independently in each country, with greatly varying processes, and the performance of these functions could greatly impact flight operations.

The international travel requirements that have grown with international commerce make it even more important that everyone involved with air transportation be on the same level. Not only does ISO certification mean a company has become reliable and efficient, it engenders confidence in the consuming public. People can travel and ship material without concern that certain providers might be substandard.

Gaining certification under ISO criterion requires a dedicated approach to company wide analysis, a will to change what is necessary and a vigilance to maintain the level of performance. Ensuring compliance with all the requirements of the standard, implanting change while operating the business can be difficult. Engaging with an as9100 consultant can make the certification process a straightforward successful effort.




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