Aerospace AS9104/1A:2022 Update
AS9104/1:2022 Requirements for the certification of aviation, space, and defense quality management system programs
(March 2023)
IAQG has published the new AS9104/1:2022 requirements for certification bodies, and we have been preparing to support this required transition. We will be ready to begin auditing in conformance with the new standards in October 2023.
AS9104/1 is the standard applied by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) for Certification Bodies (including PRI Registrar) on how to structure and manage Aerospace audits and certification. Audits performed by PRI Registrar are in conformance with the requirements of the current revision of AS9104/1. As part of the implementation of the 2022 revision of AS9104/1, PRI Registrar – as well as all other Certification Bodies – must re-evaluate the certifications of all Aerospace Certified Organizations, and to bring those certifications into conformance with the new requirements.
To do this, PRI will be reviewing your account to determine the changes needed, and will contact you with the details, as applicable. In addition, PRI will be incorporating a transition review at your next regular recertification or surveillance audit (for audits beginning in October 2023) to ensure that your certification meets the requirements of AS9104/1:2022. Upon closure of your regular audit with transition, a new certificate will be issued showing your certification’s conformance to the new requirements.
Effects on your audit duration
Audit duration for Aerospace organizations is governed by the requirements of AS9104/1, and the 2022 revision has introduced some changes to the method of calculating this duration.
- The audit duration table, based on employee count, has been revised.
- Deductions for certain non-applicable processes have been introduced.
- The Organization Certification Analysis Program (OCAP) will now be required, and may in some cases influence audit duration. (See below)
- Contractually mandated application of additional Aerospace standards (e.g., AS9102, AS9145) will increase audit duration.
- There are now mandated minimum amounts of auditor off-site time.
Prior to your transition audit (at your next regular recertification or surveillance audit), your audit time will be recalculated using these new requirements, and you will receive a contract addendum informing you of the changes to the audit time and its associated cost.
Certification Analysis Program (OCAP)
The OCAP process is a new performance-based risk assessment intended to adjust audit duration based on the relative strength of a supplier’s Aerospace Quality Management System (AQMS). This risk analysis will be based on the following data:
- Complexity of the site
- Strength of the internal audit program
- On-time delivery KPI
- Conformity of delivered product or service (i.e., Quality) KPI
- Customer Complaints / Feedback KPI
- Previous PEAR scores
AS9104/1 assigns a risk level to each of these areas, based on defined criteria, and a method for calculating an overall risk for the site. Sites will be determined to be high, medium, or low risk, with the following influence on audit duration:
| High Risk | 10% increase to audit duration |
| Medium Risk | No change to audit duration |
| Low Risk | 10% reduction to audit duration |
The IAQG estimates that approximately 85% of all Aerospace Certified Organizations will fall into the medium risk category.
The OCAP risk analysis will be performed for each site within an organization’s certification prior to each regular audit (initial, recertification, surveillance), as well as prior to certain special audits, such as transfers and scope expansions (e.g., changing or adding a location).
In order to perform the OCAP risk analysis, PRI will require certain information no less than 90 days prior to the start of each audit. This timeline is mandated by AS9104/1, and PRI will have no choice but to take the following actions if this deadline is not met:
- If the information is not provided to PRI at least 90 days prior to the start date of an audit, then a nonconformance will be issued due to the failure to comply with the program requirements.
- If the information is not provided to PRI at least 40 days prior to the start date of an audit, then the affected site will be deemed by default as high risk and audit duration will be increased by 10%, as required by the standard.
As part of the revision to AS9104/1, the Campus and Several Site certification structures are being eliminated; going forward, all organizations will be either a Single Site or Multisite. Note: A Single Site organization may include more than one building, provided they are all located in the same geographical location.
If your organization is currently designated as a Campus or Several Site structure on your certificate, then PRI will be contacting you to inform you of your new structure, and the effect that this will have on audit duration and site audit frequency.
Due to the need to receive your information for the OCAP analysis at least 90 days prior to the start of your audit, audits (including initial audits) can no longer be scheduled in less than that period of time, except in extraordinary circumstances.
As part of the transition to the requirements of AS9104/1:2022, the pandemic-era allowances for remote auditing will be ending. As of October 1, 2023, PRI Registrar will no longer be permitted to conduct 100% remote Aerospace audits, even if the organization has a policy restricting external visitors.
Under the requirements of the new standard revision, each audit may be conducted up to 50% remotely. No justification is necessary for this partial remote auditing, although PRI must still conduct a risk assessment to confirm that your organization has the infrastructure to support remote auditing.
Changes to appropriate standard selection
A new requirement added to AS9104/1:2022 is that an organization’s activities and the intended application of the standard to which they are certified must be in alignment.
| Standard | Intended Application |
| AS9100 | Manufacturing and Services |
| AS9110 | Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul |
| AS9120 | Distribution and Reselling |
In some rare cases, there may be organizations whose certified standard does not currently match the activities performed by that organization. In these cases, PRI will no longer be able to support certification to the incorrect standard.
PRI is working proactively to identify potentially affected organizations, and if we find that this situation may apply to you and your organization, we will be reaching out to confirm which standard is correct for you, and to discuss any necessary options for achieving certification to the correct standard.
In order to support the changes in the revised AS9104/1:2022, the IAQG will be launching a new version of the OASIS online system. No exact launch date is available, but it will be a necessary part of the transition to AS9104/1:2022. If it has not been launched prior to October 1, 2023, PRI will be delaying the start of transition.
Additional information and resources
The following links are available to provide additional information on the transition from the IAQG. We encourage you to review these materials.
OASIS v3 Landing Page: For up-to-date news on the launch of the new OASIS system
IAQG Transition Hub: Information, tools, and FAQs regarding the transition from the IAQG
IAQG Quality Horizon Podcast: Changes and Improvements to 9104-1 and OCAP
