Quality Management System

Solar Atmospheres serves a variety of markets, and our Quality System must comply with several Quality System Standards. Most of our customers rely on the basic Quality System components of ISO9001, however our aerospace customers demand more stringent control of certain processes, requiring AS9100. We also service the Nuclear market where we must comply with Nuclear Regulatory Commission Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, appendix B. Solar’s quality management programs include market specific requirements when required by contract. Solar Atmospheres is also Nadcap accredited for certain “special processes”.

ISO9001

ISO9001 is the most common quality system program in today’s world, and is the backbone of Solar’s Quality Management System. It “promotes the adoption of a process approach when developing, implementing, and improving the effectiveness of a quality management system, to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements”. The standard specifies requirements for a quality management program. Some of the requirements are for procedures. ISO 9001 requires that documented procedures cover six main areas: Control of Documents, Control of Records, Internal Audits, Control of Nonconforming Product, Corrective Action, and Preventive Action. Other documentation is required such as a Quality Manual, Quality Policy, and Objectives for Quality.

In summary, the standard sets forth requirements aimed at meeting customer requirements with an emphasis on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. A heat treat supplier with ISO9001 registration has proven the ability to provide superior service to their customers.

View & Print Our ISO9001 Registration Certificates

 AS9100

AS9100 incorporates ISO9001 in its entirety and specifies additional quality management program requirements aimed at aviation, space, and the defense industry. In spite of being aimed at these industries, the requirements can easily be applied to any industry. AS9100 is prepared by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). IAQG is made up of representatives from companies in the Americas, Asia/Pacific, and Europe. Their goal is “to implement initiatives that make significant improvements in quality and reductions in cost throughout the value stream”.

Specific noteworthy additions to ISO9001 include: The importance of meeting regulatory requirements, risk management, special product requirements such as safety and reliability, project management, configuration management, design and development verification and validation testing, detailed additions concerning purchasing and verification of purchased product, control of suppliers, process verification, control of production equipment, tools and software programs, post delivery support, traceability, and requires significant additions to the supplier’s control of nonconforming product procedure.

A heat treat supplier with AS9100 registration has proven the ability to supply world class services to the aerospace industry.

View & Print Our AS9100 Registration Certificates

NADCAP

Nadcap is an acronym for National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program. According to the Nadcap Website, Nadcap is “the leading worldwide cooperative program of major companies designed to manage a cost-effective consensus approach to special processes & products and provide continual improvement within the aerospace & automotive industries”. Their mission is “To provide international, unbiased, independent manufacturing process and product assessments and certification services for the purpose of adding value, reducing total cost, and facilitating relationships between subscribers and suppliers. “

Nadcap is structured with a board of directors, under which exists a Management council. Under the council is a set of task groups as follows: Aerospace Quality Systems, Chemical Processing, Coatings, Composites, Conventional Machining, Elastomer Seals, Electronics, Fluid Distrubution Systems, Heat Treating, Materials Testing Laboratories, Non Destructive Testing, Nonconventional Machining & Surface Enhancement, Sealants, and Welding.

If you are a supplier of any of these products and/or services to any of the subscribing aerospace primes, you will need to pass a Nadcap Audit as part of the quality management program. There are nearly 50 subscribing primes including GE Aviation, The Boeing Company, Honeywell Aerospace, Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney, and many others.

Audit checklists are generated by the task groups. As part of the checklist a total of ten actual orders must be audited from quotation to delivery. Any unaddressed requirements or undefined process parameters are considered a non-conformity. During an audit, any NO answers are considered findings that must be addressed prior to accreditation. Findings may be major or minor. Typically any findings that impact product are majors, findings where no impact to product is realized are minors. After a supplier completes any responses to findings, the staff engineer from Nadcap will review them for completeness and adequacy, after which the audit results are forwarded to the task group for acceptance. If accepted, you are granted accreditation.

A heat treat supplier with Nadcap accreditation is a supplier that has proven to be able to effectively meet the most demanding and stringent customer requirements; the aerospace industry. Solar Atmospheres is Nadcap accredited for Heat Treating, Vacuum Brazing, Rockwell Hardness Testing, and Nondestructive Testing.

View & Print Our NADCAP Heat Treating Accreditation Certificate -PA

View & Print Our NADCAP Heat Treating Accreditation Certificate -CA

 View & Print Our NADCAP Non Destructive Testing Accreditation Certificate -PA