Obtaining AS9100, the manufacturing procedures and quality certification serving as a validator within the aerospace industry, might seem like simply a matter of defining processes and then getting independently certified. There is more than this.
Cassandra Metell (above left), who helped lead the AS9100 certification effort for Advance CNC Machining in Ohio, says there are human and cultural factors as well, and the shop committing to this journey cannot help but be changed by it.
Even in a successful, high-capability machine shop, achieving AS9100 involves:
The shift away from trust in tribal knowledge to conforming to documented procedures.
Leadership clearly communicating the “why” so that all team members make the shift decribed in point 1.
Documentation (or way more documentation than in the past) as a new process consideration, bringing important questions about how to automate information capture.
“Disciplined thought and discplined action,” in Metell’s words.
An opportunity: The chance to fast-track process improvements the shop has long considered but never acted upon. This is an opportunity perhaps never to be repeated.
Metell discusses with me how Advance CNC experienced all of these points and others. Watch our conversation about AS9100 certification for a CNC machine shop: