AS9120 Requirements Rev B

Who is eligible to become AS9120 Certified?

Companies that design, develop, and/or produce aviation, space and defense products; and by organizations providing post-delivery support, including the provision of maintenance, spare parts, or materials, for their own products.  Learn the details of AS9120 requirements with Requirements Training.

AS9120 starts with ISO 9001 and adds new requirements for the aerospace industry. You can compare AS9120 to ISO 9001 here.

The current version of AS9120 is Rev B – you can buy a copy here. 

AS9120 Rev B Summary of Requirements

Section 1: Scope

Talks about the standard and how it applies to organizations and:

• the importance of a process approach
• you need to include regulatory requirements of your products & services
• you need to have processes in place for continual improvement.

Section 2: Normative Reference

References ISO 9000:2015 which should be used along with the standard. It outlines the Quality Management System’s Fundamentals and Vocabulary

Section 3: Terms and Definitions

Gives definitions used in the standard, including unique AS9120 terms like:

• • 3.1 Risk
  • 3.2 Special Requirements
  • 3.3 Critical Items
  • 3.4 Key Characteristic

Section 4: General Requirements

Gives requirements for the overall Quality Management System Documentation Requirements, including:

• Quality Manual with Scope of the QMS
• Required Procedures
• Required Forms & Records
• Control of Documents
• Control of Forms

Note: In February of 2024, ISO published an amendment to Clause 4.1 and 4.2 of ISO 9001:2015 to include climate change considerations.  Since AS9120 = ISO 9001 + IAQG Requirements, this amendment applies to AS9120.

• Learn more about ISO 9001:2015 Amendment 1: Climate action changes

Section 5: Management Responsibility

Gives requirements for Management’s role in the QMS

• Management Responsibility
• Quality Policy & Objectives
• Customer Focus & Customer Satisfaction
• Management Review

Section 6: Resource Management

Gives requirements for resources including:

• Personnel & Training
• Resource Management

Section 7: Product Realization

Gives requirements for:

• the production of the product or service
• Planning
• customer related processes and Customer Feedback
• Design
• Purchasing
• Process control
• Identification and Traceability
• Customer Property
• The following are some of the AS9120 additions to ISO 9001
  • 7.1.1 Project Management
    • Buy a copy of the guidance Standard (ISO 10006)
  • 7.1.2 Risk Management
    • Read Risk Management
    • Buy a copy of the guidance Standard (ARP 9134A)
    • Quality Digest AS9120 Risk Article
    • Quality Progress Article “Risk management concept expanded“
    • Check SCMH for guidance
  • 7.1.3 Configuration Management
    • Read about ISO 10007 Configuration Management
    • Buy a copy of the guidance Configuration Management Standard (ISO 10007)
  • 7.1.4 Work Transfers
    • Read about Work Transfers
  • 7.3.1 Key Characteristics
    • Buy a copy of the guidance Key Characteristics Standard (AS9103B)
    • Read What is AS9103 Key Characteristics
  • 7.5.1.1 First Article Inspection (FAI)
    • FAI has a unique standard (AS9102C) and thus is not part of the AS9120 Rev C QMS.
    • However, Section 7.5.1.1 (Production Process Verification) of the standard does require testing of a production part, which is similar to FAI.
    • Buy a copy of the guidance FAI Standard (AS9102C)
    • Read: What is AS9102 First Article Inspection
  • 7.5.5 Foreign Object Detection (FOD)
    • Read about Foreign Object Detection
    • Buy a copy of NAS 412

Section 8: Measurement, Analysis and Improvement

• Gives requirements on monitoring processes and improving those processes
• Customer Satisfaction
• Internal Audits
• Control of Non-Conforming Product
• Corrective and Preventive Action

Related Standards Information:

• ISO 10006 Project Management
  • Read What is ISO 10006 Project Management?
  • Buy a copy of the guidance Standard (ISO 10006)
• ISO 10007 Configuration Management
  • Read about ISO 10007 Configuration Management
  • Buy a copy of the guidance Configuration Management Standard (ISO 10007)
• ARP 9134 Risk Management
  • Read Risk Management
  • Buy a copy of the guidance Standard (ARP 9134A)
• AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAI)
  • Read: What is AS9102 First Article Inspection
  • Buy a copy of the guidance FAI Standard (AS9102C)
• AS9103 Key Characteristics
  • Read What is AS9103 Rev. A Key Characteristics
  • Buy a copy of the guidance Key Characteristics Standard (AS9103B)

More information

• Steps to becoming AS9120 Certified
• SAE International
• Benefits of AS9120
• Get started with our All-in-One Certification Package – best seller and best value!