AS9100 and Nadcap supply chain.
Auditors spend a long time in purchasing. We set up the supply chain side of AS9100, ISO 9001, and Nadcap so supplier approval, flow-down, inspection, and monitoring records hold up to a registrar or DCMA review.
- 40%less incoming inspection volume through ship-to-stock
- 200+active suppliers in an aerospace and defense base
- 7defense programs supported
From our founder’s operating roles. Not client results.
Where AS9100 supplier control breaks down.
Purchasing audit findings trace back to the approved supplier list, special processes, purchase order content, and monitoring that never leads to action.
Stale approved supplier list
Suppliers stay approved with expired certifications, no scope limits, and no record of why they were approved.
Special processes off-list
Heat treat, anodize, plating, and NDT go to sources that are not Nadcap accredited or not approved by the customer for that process.
Thin purchase orders
Orders do not state the drawing revision, key characteristics, first article, test, or record retention requirements the supplier must meet.
Monitoring with no action
Delivery and quality data is collected but not reviewed, and poor performers keep receiving orders with no corrective action.
What AS9100 clause 8.4 asks of your supply chain.
AS9100D clause 8.4 covers control of externally provided processes, products, and services. We set up each control so the evidence sits in the supplier file and the ERP.
- 8.4.1 General
- Approved supplier list with scope, approval basis, status, and periodic re-evaluation
- 8.4.2 Control
- Type and extent of control set by supplier risk: source inspection, receiving inspection, or delegated verification
- 8.4.3 Information
- Purchase order requirements: drawing revision, specifications, first article, test, records, right of access, and counterfeit part prevention
- Special processes
- Nadcap accredited or customer-approved sources for heat treat, anodize, plating, passivation, and NDT
- First article
- First article inspection for new parts, new sources, and changes to design, process, or location
- Receiving
- Certificates of conformance, material certifications to AMS, ASTM, and DIN specifications, and sampling plans
- Monitoring
- Supplier scorecards for delivery and quality, with corrective action requests for misses
- Government
- Readiness for DCMA source inspection and purchasing reviews, and DCAA documentation on cost-type work
How it works.
Assess
Review your approved supplier list, supplier files, purchase order quality clauses, and recent audit findings against clause 8.4.
You receive: Purchasing gap list against AS9100 clause 8.4
Set controls
Rank suppliers by risk and set the control for each: source inspection, receiving inspection, first article, or ship-to-stock for proven suppliers.
You receive: Supplier control plan by risk level
Write
Update purchase order quality clauses and contract flow-downs, and confirm Nadcap or customer approval for every special process source.
You receive: Quality clause set and special process source list
Monitor
Run scorecards and supplier reviews, issue corrective action requests, and re-evaluate approvals on schedule.
You receive: A supplier review cadence your team runs
From operating experience.
- Compliance kept with AS9100, ISO 9001, Nadcap, and DCMA/DCAA requirements across FFP, IDIQ, CPFF, and OTA contract vehicles.
- 40% less incoming inspection volume through a ship-to-stock program for top-performing suppliers.
- A supplier development program built with scorecards, a terms and conditions framework, and contract-specific flow-downs.
- Global suppliers developed in India and Taiwan, including prototype development and first article test qualifications.
Our founder delivered these results while running supply chain organizations between 2017 and 2021. They are operator results, not client results. See all results
What you receive.
- Approved supplier list with scope, status, and re-evaluation dates
- Purchasing gap review against AS9100 clause 8.4
- Purchase order quality clauses by supplier and part type
- Special process source list checked against Nadcap and customer approvals
- First article and receiving inspection plan
- Supplier scorecards and corrective action log
Standards, contracts, and systems our founder has worked within
- AS9100
- ISO 9001
- Nadcap
- DCMA and DCAA
- FFP, IDIQ, CPFF, OTA
- First article inspection
- Ship-to-stock
- Shoptech E2
AS9100 and Nadcap supplier questions.
Do you certify companies to AS9100?
No. Accredited registrars certify. We prepare the supply chain and purchasing side so the evidence is in place before the audit.
What do AS9100 auditors look for in purchasing?
An approved supplier list with a clear basis for each approval, purchase orders that state every requirement, first article and inspection records, and proof that supplier performance is reviewed and acted on.
Does every special process supplier need Nadcap accreditation?
Not always. Your customers set the rule. Many primes require Nadcap accreditation or their own approval for special processes such as heat treat, chemical processing, and NDT. We check each source against your contract and the customer’s approved list.
When is a first article inspection required?
For a new part or a new supplier, and again after a change to design, process, tooling, materials, or manufacturing location, or a two-year lapse in production, under AS9102. Your customer may add its own triggers, and those go on the purchase order.
Can ship-to-stock work under AS9100?
Yes, when it is a documented control. Suppliers qualify on proven quality and delivery, verification moves to the source and to periodic audits, and status is withdrawn when performance slips.
How do you prepare the supply chain for DCMA?
We make sure supplier files, purchase order flow-downs, inspection records, and certificates of conformance are complete and traceable to each order, so source inspection and purchasing reviews find what they expect.
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