![Advisera Mark Hammar](https://advisera.com/wp-content/uploads/blog_authors/markhammar.jpg)
January 29, 2020
As was mentioned in the article How does AS9110 & AS9120 relate to AS9100 Rev D?, AS9100 Rev D is not the only standard available for creating an aerospace Quality Management System (QMS). The AS9120 Rev B standard is available for companies who are aviation, space and defense distributors who wish to create their QMS. So, how different is AS9120 Rev B to the AS9100 Rev D standard?
Both the AS9100 Rev D standard and the AS9120 Rev B standard are based on the internationally-recognized ISO 9001:2015 standard for creating a quality management system. Both standards take all of the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, and then add in specific requirements for the aerospace industry. The additional requirements are presented in the document in bold and italics so that you can see what has been added, and no requirements from the ISO 9001:2015 standard are removed.
The standard that you choose is directly related to the type of aerospace organization that you represent. In both cases, if you are not in the aviation, space and defense industry, then these standard requirements will not be easily applicable to you; but the application of the requirements will differ if you create products and services, or distribute products in the aerospace industry.
Along with some minor requirement deletions, there are five main sub-clauses which were added to the ISO 9001:2015 standard in AS9100 Rev D, but were not included in AS9120 Rev B. The clauses are:
The biggest additions to AS9120, that were not in AS9100, are in the definitions. The following are the main definitions that have been added that are specific to aerospace distributors:
Along with these definitions, and the minor requirement changes that mention these terms, there is one main sub-clause which has been added specifically for the aerospace distributor. This is clause 8.1.5, prevention of suspected unapproved parts. The requirements in this sub-clause are nearly identical to the requirements in clause 8.1.4, prevention of counterfeit parts. Clause 8.1.5 requires that you have a process to prevent the release of unapproved or suspected unapproved parts just as you would with counterfeit parts. This process must also be appropriate to the risk posed to your organization.
For more information on the process for counterfeit parts, see the article: Practical guidance on preventing counterfeit parts by applying AS9100 Rev D.
The aerospace distributor has many different requirements from the aerospace manufacturer, and this is seen in the implementation of the AS9120 Rev B standard. While it may have been easy for organizations to claim exclusions to the various AS9100 Rev D requirements which were not in AS9120 Rev B, this would not address the fact that there are additional requirements needed as a distributor. So, if you are an aerospace distributor it is worth looking at the AS9120 requirements as a more simplified set of requirements which can better help your business grow.
For a better understanding of the AS9100 Rev D requirements, download this free white paper: Clause-by-clause explanation of AS9100 Rev D.