Among the standards published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is the AS9120. It builds on the requirements already set in ISO 9001 and AS9100. The difference is that it has been tailored to offer requirements specific to the Aviation, space and defence industries. This includes any company that procures parts, materials and assemblies in these industries. While it is important for these companies to get an AS9120 certification, the process can be quite difficult. There are those that choose to get the certification o their own. Nonetheless, hiring an AS9120 can make the process a lot easier.
What Does an AS9120 Consultant Do?
For a company to be able to obtain the AS9120 certification, they must first adhere to some set standards. This is where an AS9120 consultant comes in. Unlike certification bodies whose work is to grant certification assess whether standards are being met, a consultant usually assists companies in meeting the given standards and eventually get certified.
To help achieve this, the AS9120 consultant will first assess how the company is going about its processes to see whether they are up to standard. While at it, they get to identify where the company is falling shorts. Based on their observations, they can then guide the company towards meeting the set criteria. They can do this by pointing out issues, making recommendations on improvements and even providing training.
What Are the Qualifications of an AS9120 Consultant?
For the best results, you want to hire a qualified AS9120 consultant. However, you will find that there aren’t necessarily any formal requirements for this type of work. Nonetheless, a good consultant should have good experience in the field and have any other relevant qualifications. For starters, they should be very conversant with the ISO standards, including the one you are looking for. They should also be well knowledgeable in the industry they wish to advise, in this case being the aerospace industry.
Why Should You Hire an AS9120 Consultant?
It is not mandatory to work with an AS9120 consultant for you to earn the certification. Hiring one also comes with its cost. As such, some companies may choose to avoid this path. However, having an AS9120 consultant will prove to be beneficial in the long run.
Convenience
Hiring an AS9120 consultant proves to be convenient as it makes the process a lot easier. As a company executive or employee, you may not be very knowledgeable about the standards. This is especially if it is your first time. Hence, trying to earn one independently will end up being quite a difficult process. On the other hand, a consultant is an expert in this area. They will therefore easily take that burden off your shoulders.
Faster Certification
The ISO standards and the process of applying for certification can be complicated. If you are trying to do this on your own, you may end up taking too much trying to interpret these standards, let alone implementing them. An AS9120 consultant has a lot of experience with these standards and can help you implement them much faster and get certification more quickly.