BLOG  |  Certification Guidance How to Select an AS9100:D Registrar A Practical Guide for Small Aerospace Organizations By Clayton Kuehl  |  The QMS Collective, LLC   Choosing the right registrar is one of the most consequential decisions in your AS9100:D certification journey — and one that is consistently underestimated. The wrong registrar does not just cost money; it can produce an audit experience that generates friction instead of value, and a certificate that does not accurately...

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 suppliers providing...

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 registrar to audit...