AS9100 Consulting
Aerospace RFQs starting to mention AS9100? Here's the honest path for a small shop, including whether you need it at all yet.
What AS9100 is, in one paragraph
AS9100 is ISO 9001 with aerospace bolted on: configuration management, first article inspection (AS9102), counterfeit-part prevention, product safety, and much heavier risk and traceability expectations. Certification puts you in the OASIS database, which is where primes and their supplier quality teams actually go looking for vendors.
The two paths
Already ISO 9001 certified
The upgrade path: delta gap analysis against the AS-specific requirements, build out FAI/configuration/counterfeit controls, transition at your next audit cycle with an aerospace-accredited registrar.
Starting from zero
We build the ISO 9001 core and the aerospace layers together as one project, sequenced so the shop isn't overwhelmed. It runs longer than a plain 9001 build, but it's still measured in months, not years.
Straight talk: if aerospace is a "maybe someday," don't buy AS9100 yet. Get ISO 9001 built with the upgrade path in mind, win general work, and add the AS layer when a real aerospace PO justifies it. We'll tell you which side of that line you're on in the first call.
Common questions
Do primes really check OASIS?
Yes. Supplier quality teams filter by OASIS listing before you ever hear about the opportunity. It's the aerospace approved vendor list.
What does AS9100 cost vs ISO 9001?
Higher on both the consulting and registrar sides, because aerospace-accredited auditors bill more and audit longer. Gap analysis is still fixed-price (quoted flat for AS scope before we start); implementation quoted after, same as our 9001 pricing approach.
Do you work with Houston aerospace shops?
Yes. Clear Lake, NASA-contractor suppliers, aviation MRO feeders. We're based in Houston.