Calculating Audit Time

Are you ready to be audited to become AS9120 certified? If so, it may be time to contact a registrar, otherwise known as an certification body (CB). External audits take time, and many people wonder how long the process takes. Audit time is determined by a number of factors including size, complexity, risk and nature of an organization. An accredited registrar will use the guidelines and requirements set forth by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to consider these factors and determine time required to audit clients.

We have compiled a table to help give you an idea of the audit time that you are facing. These are only estimates and will have to be adjusted based on complexity, risk and nature. 

Figure 1: Audit time. Copyright SAE AS9104/1.

Each Certification Body will vary but must abide by IAF requirements. A certification body could determine after an initial audit that more or less time is required for the surveillance audit. Audit time may also include remote auditing techniques as well. This may be web meetings, teleconferencing, and electronic verification of the client’s processes. This is fairly common for the first stage of an audit.

In addition to IAF requirements, the AS9104 Standard outlines the requirements for aerospace quality management system (AQMS) certification programs in the Americas Aerospace Quality Group (AAQG), and CBs should understand the requirements of this standard to adhere to them. To learn more click here.