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AS9100 Certification for Tennessee Aerospace & Defense Manufacturers
AS9100 is the quality credential required to supply aerospace and defense primes. Tennessee MEP consultants know the standard, know the industry, and know how to get you certified.
We start with a no cost Gemba walk. No commitment required.
AS9100 — Standard at a Glance
Scope
Quality management system requirements for aviation, space, and defense organizations. Builds on ISO 9001 and adds aerospace-specific requirements including risk management, configuration management, first article inspection, and counterfeit parts prevention.
Who Requires It
Any manufacturer supplying to primes such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and others. Required for production parts and assemblies — standard for most aerospace and defense supply contracts.
Builds On / Leads To
AS9100 requires ISO 9001 as its foundation. Achieving it strengthens your quality system for adjacent certifications.
Builds On
Leads To
Certification Cycle
3-year certification cycle with surveillance audits in years one and two. Full recertification audit in year 3.
Tennessee MEP supports surveillance prep and recertification as part of ongoing engagement options.
What Our Clients Typically Achieve
Tennessee aerospace and defense suppliers who complete AS9100 certification with Tennessee MEP typically see measurable results across three areas — supply chain access, quality performance, and contract positioning.
Supply Chain Access
Qualified to bid on aerospace and defense contracts previously out of reach
Approved Supplier Status
Added to prime and OEM approved supplier lists requiring AS9100 compliance
Reduced Escapes
Documented reduction in nonconformances, escapes, and customer-reported defects
AS9100 Questions, Answered
What is AS9100? +
AS9100 is the quality management system standard for the aviation, space, and defense industries. It builds on ISO 9001 and adds aerospace-specific requirements including risk management, configuration management, first article inspection, and counterfeit parts prevention. Maintained by the International Aerospace Quality Group, it is required by most aerospace OEMs and defense primes — a contract requirement, not a voluntary credential.
What does AS9100 do for my business? +
AS9100 certification qualifies Tennessee manufacturers to bid on aerospace and defense contracts that require demonstrated quality system compliance. It signals to OEMs and primes that your facility operates to the rigorous standards required for flight-critical and mission-critical parts, and positions you for inclusion in approved supplier lists.
How does Tennessee MEP help me get certified? +
The Tennessee MEP support process follows three phases:
Phase 1 — Explore & Evaluate: Structured gap assessment aligned to AS9100 clauses and aerospace-specific requirements. Clear picture of what is needed before you commit to anything.
Phase 2 — Build & Implement: Clause-by-clause system alignment, procedure development, risk management integration, configuration management setup, internal audit preparation, and management review facilitation.
Phase 3 — Maintain & Recertify: Independent internal audits, corrective action validation, surveillance audit prep, and on-site support during external certification audits.
What does AS9100 certification cost? +
There are two separate cost buckets — your third-party registrar fees and Tennessee MEP consultant fees. They are independent of each other.
Registrar fees ($8K–$25K): Paid to the third-party certification body for the initial audit and certificate. Varies by company size, number of sites, and registrar selected.
Tennessee MEP fees: Project-based consultant support. Depends on company size, current quality maturity, number of locations, and scope needed.
Ongoing (3-year cycle): Surveillance audits in years one and two plus full recertification every three years. Tennessee MEP supports surveillance prep as part of ongoing engagement options.
How long does AS9100 certification take? +
Most Tennessee manufacturers complete the process in 12 to 24 months. Companies that already hold ISO 9001 move faster. Manufacturers starting without an existing QMS typically need 18 to 24 months. Tennessee MEP will give you a realistic projection based on your current state.
Typical milestone sequence: Gap Analysis → Process Mapping → Docs & Procedures → Internal Audit → Registrar Audit → Audit Remediation.
Ready to Get Started?
Tennessee MEP guides your team from gap assessment through registrar audit and supports surveillance and recertification cycles after that. We scale the process to fit your team, resources, and timeline.
We start with a no cost Gemba walk. Talk to a Solutions Consultant →
Ready to qualify for aerospace and defense supply chains?
Tennessee MEP consultants are on-site across the state. We start with a no cost Gemba walk.