SAE International Publishes Standard for Inspection, Test Quality Systems for Aviation, Space and Defense Organizations

WARRENDALE, Pa., Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International's Americas Aerospace Quality Standards Committee has completed Standard AS9003, Inspection and Test Quality Systems, Requirements for Aviation, Space, And Defense Organization, and it is now available for purchase.

This quality standard is designed for suppliers that produce noncomplex products for aviation, space and defense customers. This release replaces the 1994 version of AS9003 and is modeled after the current process-based version of AS9100 as well as the Mil-Q-9858/Mil-I45208 quality system architecture that existed for decades within the Department of Defense.

Standard AS9003 provides contractors a less costly alternative to AS9100 for smaller suppliers that manufacture simple build-to-print product. It provides a set of requirements that apply to the inspection and test of noncomplex product and provides assurance that product configuration requirements and customer expectations will be met.   Non-complex products are defined as products whose conformity can be fully verified by the customer upon receipt.

"There is a strong industry need for this standard," said Mike Gusha, Manager of Quality Systems for Lockheed and the industry team lead for the AS9003 rewrite effort. "The rewrite of AS9003 was an industry effort and involved representatives from original equipment manufacturers and NASA. I can't say enough about the support we received from the rewrite team."

SAE International offers the standard via, download, mail or fax. The list price is $66. Discounts are available for SAE International members. For more information, or to purchase the standard, visit http://standards.sae.org/as9003a.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.

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Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International