Do I Need AS9100 to Sell to Aerospace Primes?
By Clayton Kuehl | The QMS Collective, LLC Short answer: increasingly, yes. But the full picture is more nuanced than a blanket requirement — and understanding it will help you decide whether and when to pursue certification. What the Primes Actually Require Major aerospace prime contractors — Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and others — have supplier qualification processes that typically include quality management system requirements. For most supplie
Clayton Kuehl
4 hours ago3 min read
How Much Does AS9100 Certification Cost for a Small Shop?
By Clayton Kuehl of The QMC Collective, LLC Cost is one of the most searched questions about AS9100 — and one of the least honestly answered. Most resources either give vague ranges or focus on large organizations. Here’s a straightforward breakdown for small aerospace shops, based on what I’ve seen working with organizations like yours for nearly 30 years. The Two Buckets of Cost AS9100 certification costs fall into two categories: certification body fees (what you pay the r
Clayton Kuehl
4 hours ago3 min read
How Long Does AS9100 Certification Actually Take?By Clayton Kuehl | The QMS Collective, LLC
It’s one of the first questions small aerospace shops ask — and the honest answer is: it depends. But that’s not a dodge. There are real variables that drive the timeline, and understanding them will help you plan realistically rather than get surprised halfway through. Here’s what nearly 30 years of working with small aerospace organizations has taught me about how long this actually takes. The Short Answer For a small aerospace shop starting from scratch, expect 4 to 9 mont
Clayton Kuehl
4 hours ago3 min read



