For those aspiring to become an aerospace experience auditor (AEA) and audit in aerospace: What is required to become an AEA?
The requirements for becoming an AEA are complex and not always well understood, even by certification/registration bodies. The requirements are cited in aerospace standard AS9014, Americas Aerospace Quality Group (AAQG) Requirements for Aerospace Quality Management Systems Certification/Registrations Programs. AEAs are required to be familiar with the requirements of AS9014 and the AS9104 trilogy, so they are recommended reading for all aspiring AEAs.
The requirements are explained in detail on this website and are summarized briefly below. The candidate AEA must:
a.) establish auditor credentials that are recognized by an accreditation body
AND
b.) get training on the standard to which the auditor wants to audit (i.e. AS9100 or AS9110) and instruction on how to use the appropriate checklist for the audit (each standard has its own checklist). This information is provided in our 2-day Aerospace Quality Management System Foundation course or the Aerospace Standard Auditor Course.
AND
c.) show either evidence of 4 years in the last ten work experience in aerospace OR take the appropriate Aerospace Industry-Specific Course and do some mentored audits. There are separate, specific courses for AS9100 and AS9110. For AS9110, there is a requirement for either work experience or training on aircraft maintenance facilities and the training requirement is met by taking the AS9110 specific course.
Note that the training on the standard and checklist is contained in one course and the competency course is a separate course (per Americas Aerospace Quality Group direction). Below is the information from Tables 1 and 2 from AS9104/3 summarizing these requirements (the paragraph numbers in parenthesis refer to the paragraph numbers of AS9104/3):
The continuing education requirement could be accomplished by such activities as taking FAA courses which address, in detail, requirements of the federal aviation regulation (FAR) or other related FAA topics.
The course descriptions provide course details, including a list of the course topics covered. These topics are as directed by the Americas Aerospace Quality Group. Please see each individual course page for descriptions, or view the list of updated aerospace courses.
What is an Aerospace Experience Auditor?
Separate requirements have been established for achieving Aerospace Experience Auditor status to the AS9100, AS9110 and AS9120 standards.
An Aerospace Experience Auditor is an auditor who is competent to conduct aerospace audits by having met the following requirements in the areas of training, audit experience and work experience:
- Training: These requirements are the same as the training requirements for auditors/lead auditors certified by the RABQSA, IRCA or other authority. The requirements include:
- Certification as an auditor/lead auditor or completion of an approved Lead Auditor course within the last three years. The course must have been based on one of the quality system standards, such as ISO 9001, TL 9000, AS9100, AS9110 or TS 16949.
- Foundation training for auditing to the AS9100 or AS9110 standard. This requirement has been met if the Lead Auditor course was based on the AS9100 or AS9110, respectively. The AS9100 Foundation course and AS9110 Foundation course pages provide full course details.
- Audit Experience: For the audits to count for Aerospace Experience Auditor certification, the audits must have been conducted against the requirements of an aerospace standard, such as AS9100 or AS9110. The auditor must also be able to present information demonstrating satisfactorily having been witnessed at a minimum of two audits at a true aerospace industry supplier. The witness must be acceptable to the body who will issue the auditor's credentials. (It is preferred that the organization being audited for the witness audit be a major airframe manufacturer, prime supplier or auxiliary equipment supplier.)
The witness auditor must be performing solely in the role of witness and cannot be a member of the audit team.
- Work Experience: Two of the last 15 years work experience in aerospace is required. Four out of the last ten years work experience must have been in the aerospace industry or additional training (the appropriate aerospace industry-specific course) is required.
- Are these requirements documented anywhere?
Details can be found in the AS9104 trilogy and AS9014, until AS9014 is withdrawn.
- Who issues credentials/certification as an Aerospace Experience Auditor and how do I apply?
The most recent information states that the accreditation body in a country, such as RABQSA (in the US), SCC (in Canada) or INMETRO (in Brazil), has this responsibility. Submit applications per the agency requirements.
- What is the benefit of becoming an Aerospace Experience Auditor?
In some cases, such as when an auditor is to perform an AS9100, AS9110, or AS9120 audit for a registrar, Aerospace Experience Auditor certification is required. In other cases, such as for shared audits, the certification is not formally required but is highly recommended. Certification removes questions regarding qualifications of the auditor. The demonstrated industry trend is for widespread use of Aerospace Experience Auditors.
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