At A.R.E. Manufacturing, we’ve always been committed to delivering the highest quality products to our customers. As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re excited to share our journey towards AS9100 certification, building upon our current ISO 9001 certification.
Let’s explore A.R.E.’s quality processes, our improvements, and how these changes will benefit our customers.
How We Achieve High-Quality Precision Machined Parts
Proactive Problem Solving
One of the cornerstones of our quality system is our approach to identifying and resolving issues. We’ve implemented procedures meant to capture and document problems at the source. By cataloging issues as they occur, we ensure they do not pass through our shop doors and onto our customers.
This proactive approach guides our corrective actions. If, for example, we experienced a quality issue internally on 5% of the batch size, our team would flag this issue straight away. Then, we would work together to develop solutions, determining the root cause of the issue to ensure it never happens again.
Comprehensive Documentation
We maintain thorough documentation of all customer requirements in our ERP system and on our work orders. This is particularly crucial for our aerospace and energy customers, who often require specific document packets. We’ve added a dedicated operation on our work orders for document packet preparation, ensuring that all necessary certificates, inspection reports, and conformity documents are included and properly handled.
Streamlined Quality Processes
ProShop, our ERP system, has been instrumental in streamlining our quality processes through:
Efficient document access and management
Automated generation of first article inspection reports
Easy attachment of material certificates and vendor documentation to purchase orders
Streamlined compilation of document packets for customers
These features have significantly improved our ability to meet customer documentation requirements efficiently and accurately.
Our Journey Toward AS9100 Certification
While we are currently ISO 9001 certified, our team is working diligently toward achieving AS9100 compliance. Our goal is to obtain this certification by 2025. However, it’s important to note that our customers already benefit from the improvements we’re making to achieve this additional certification.
As we move toward AS9100 compliance, we’re focusing on several key areas:
Updating High-Level Procedures
The A.R.E. team reviews and revises our high-level procedures to ensure they meet AS9100 requirements while aligning with our business priorities. This process serves as an internal audit, helping us identify gaps in our processes and areas for improvement.
Company-Wide Quality System Training
We’re implementing comprehensive training programs to ensure every team member understands our quality systems, the requirements of AS9100 compliance, and the rationale behind our processes. This knowledge empowers our team members to actively participate in maintaining and improving our quality standards.
Continuous Improvement
Our journey toward AS9100 certification is part of our broader commitment to continuous improvement. We’re consistently reassessing our processes, identifying areas for betterment, and implementing changes that benefit our customers.
Supporting Our Customers’ Needs
The improvements we’re making as part of our AS9100 certification journey aren’t just beneficial for our aerospace customers. All of our clients, regardless of industry, will reap the benefits of our enhanced quality processes:
Increased reliability and consistency in product quality
More efficient documentation and communication processes
Greater transparency in our manufacturing processes
Improving traceability of materials and processes
Enhanced problem-solving capabilities for quick resolution of any issues
Partner with A.R.E. Manufacturing for High-Quality Parts
Our journey toward AS9100 certification is more than just a checkbox on a list of achievements. It represents our ongoing commitment to excellence in everything we do. By continuously improving our quality process, we’re ensuring that we can meet and exceed our customers' expectations, now and in the future.
Request a quote today to see how our robust quality system can support you.