IHS White Paper:  Effectively Dealing with the Proliferation of Aerospace and Defense Standards

Standards are vital to the aerospace and defense industry, as globalization rises, the number of standards are increased requiring further compliance. Whether initiated by the Department of Defense (DoD) or international standards such as the aerospace-specific AS 9100 Quality Management System (QMS), standards are pertinent to maintain fluidity. However, the difficulty that presents itself is identifying a QMS solution that is effective, economical, and allows for profitability.

A single QMS or standards-related organization providing true global standards does not exist. This inconsistency requires aerospace industry manufacturers concerned with maintaining compliance to consider the following: Advisory Circulars (AC), Airworthiness Directives (AD), Technical Standard Orders (TSO), Canadian Airworthiness Directives (CAD). Compliance management is solely the responsibility of the aerospace and defense manufactures and suppliers, as there is no single organization to regulate compliance of standards.

Maintaining compliance in a complex standards environment is possible by identifying specific standards or QMS options. Identifying relevant standards practices by others in the industry can reduce this process. To further reduce this process, third-party suppliers provide standards research, identification and procurement. IHS is an industry-leading third-party standards supplier providing solutions for companies using aerospace and defense standards and specifications.

The increased compliance expectations for aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers can be effectively dealt with through:

• Careful and methodical research of the particular standards that apply in each case
• Leveraging the power of third-party tools, such as online databases with search and document management solutions

Standards for the aerospace and defense industries are pertinent, whether they are military standards initiated by the Department of Defense (DoD), or international standards such as the aerospace-specific AS 9100.

This White Paper addresses these concerns by:

• Identifying the background to today’s global industry standards environment
• Examining the challenges and issues of the current aerospace and defense standards climate
• Exploring the trend compliance responsibility increasingly falling on the shoulders of aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers
• Listing various ways third-party standards suppliers can simplify the process of standards research, identification and procurement
• Offering technology solutions designed to save time and money associated with standards management

An aerospace industry manufacturer concerned about maintaining compliance needs to consider: Advisory Circulars, Airworthiness Directives, Technical Standard Orders, and Canadian Airworthiness Directives.

The most common aerospace standards and regulations acquired from a third-party standards supplier: SAE AS 9100B, SAE AS 9102A, AIA/NAS NAS 410, NEMA WC 27500, and DLA MIL-STD-202G CHG Notice !.

Download this White Paper to learn how the aerospace and defense industries can move forward in dealing with such industry standards-related issues in an effective and affordable manner.