AS9110 Certification Guide for Aerospace MRO Organizations

In today's competitive aerospace maintenance landscape, operational disruptions aren't just setbacks; they're existential threats. When a commercial aircraft is grounded due to maintenance delays or quality failures, airlines' losses from a grounded aircraft can vary significantly and, in certain high-impact scenarios, can reach up to approximately $150,000 per day per aircraft, depending on aircraft type, network disruption, and operational context, while facing potential regulatory action and reputational damage. For forward-thinking aerospace MRO organizations, quality management isn't just about compliance; it's the foundation that transforms maintenance challenges into competitive advantages.

According to Grand View Research, the global aircraft MRO market size was estimated at $90.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $120.96 billion by 2030. With the global aircraft fleet expected to expand from approximately 29,000 units in 2025 to 38,300 by 2035, based on long-term commercial fleet forecasts, aerospace maintenance organizations face unprecedented demands for safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. This explosive growth makes quality management in the aerospace industry more critical than ever before.

AS9110 certification provides aerospace MRO organizations with a specialized framework that goes beyond basic compliance to deliver measurable operational excellence. This comprehensive guide explores how AS9110 transforms maintenance operations from reactive fire-fighting to proactive quality leadership.

Understanding AS9110: The Aerospace MRO Quality Standard

AS9110 is a comprehensive quality management standard specifically designed for aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul organizations. First published in 2003, AS9110 was developed by members of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and published as a regional aerospace standard (e.g., SAE AS9110 in the Americas). The current widely adopted revision, AS9110C / EN9110:2016, aligns with the ISO 9001:2015 high-level structure while incorporating additional aerospace MRO-specific requirements.

The standard addresses critical areas that directly impact aircraft safety and airworthiness, including counterfeit parts detection, configuration management, maintenance process control, and human factors considerations. Unlike general quality standards, AS9110 recognizes that aerospace MRO operations require specialized approaches to risk management, technical data control, and regulatory compliance.

Key Components of AS9110 Certification

AS9110 follows the same 10-clause structure as ISO 9001:2015, ensuring seamless integration with existing quality management systems while adding aerospace-specific requirements:

Risk Management Excellence: AS9110 requires organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impact product quality and safety throughout the maintenance lifecycle. This proactive approach prevents issues before they escalate into costly failures or safety incidents.

Process Control Mastery: The standard mandates stringent controls over maintenance processes, from initial planning and work authorization to final verification and release. Organizations must demonstrate consistency and reliability across all maintenance operations.

Configuration Management: AS9110 emphasizes proper configuration control to ensure that all modifications and repairs maintain aircraft design integrity and regulatory compliance.

Human Factors Integration: Recognizing that human error contributes to many maintenance-related incidents, AS9110 requires organizations to implement systems that consider human factors in maintenance operations.

Supplier Quality Management: The standard includes requirements for controlling external providers and ensuring supplier quality throughout the maintenance supply chain.

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Who Needs AS9110 Certification?

AS9110 certification is essential for organizations operating in the aerospace maintenance sector, particularly those seeking to differentiate themselves through demonstrated quality excellence.

Primary Candidates for AS9110

Independent MRO Providers

The independent MRO segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2024. These organizations service commercial, private, and military aircraft and require AS9110 certification to demonstrate their commitment to aerospace quality standards.

FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Stations 

The prime candidates for AS9110 certification are FAA 145 certified repair stations. These organizations must maintain both regulatory compliance and industry quality standards, making AS9110 an essential competitive differentiator.

Military and Defense MRO Organizations

Organizations providing maintenance services for military aviation products, space systems, and defense applications benefit significantly from AS9110 certification, particularly when competing for government contracts.

OEMs with Autonomous MRO Operations 

Original equipment manufacturers with maintenance operations that are operated autonomously or substantially different from their production operations should pursue AS9110 certification to demonstrate specialized MRO capabilities.

AS9110 vs AS9100: Understanding the Differences

While both AS9110 and AS9100 are part of the aerospace quality standards family, they serve distinct purposes within the industry ecosystem.

Scope and Application

AS9100 is designed for organizations involved in aerospace product design, production, and distribution. AS9110 is specifically tailored for aerospace maintenance organizations responsible for repair and overhaul activities.

Industry Requirements

While both standards share the ISO 9001 foundation, AS9110 expands on AS9100 with extra requirements for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations. It includes additional requirements for maintenance documentation, technical data control, and work verification processes unique to aircraft servicing operations.

Emphasis Areas 

AS9100 emphasizes product safety, risk management, and supply chain control across the entire manufacturing lifecycle. AS9110 focuses specifically on maintenance processes, regulatory compliance, and personnel competence in post-production activities.

The Business Impact of AS9110 Implementation

Organizations that achieve AS9110 certification experience measurable improvements across multiple operational dimensions.

Operational Excellence Benefits

Enhanced Customer Confidence

AS9110 certification demonstrates to customers that maintenance operations meet the industry's highest quality standards. This trust translates into stronger customer relationships, repeat business, and higher customer retention rates.

Market Access Expansion

Many aerospace clients, particularly government entities and major airlines, require their suppliers and partners to hold AS9110 certification. Certification opens doors to lucrative contracts and partnership opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Risk Reduction

The structured approach to quality management significantly reduces the risk of maintenance-related failures, regulatory violations, and safety incidents. This risk reduction translates directly into lower insurance costs, reduced liability exposure, and improved operational stability.

Process Standardization

AS9110 implementation creates standardized, repeatable processes that reduce variability, improve consistency, and enable more efficient operations. Teams spend less time on ad-hoc problem-solving and more time on value-adding activities.

Financial Performance Improvements

Organizations implementing AS9110 typically see measurable financial benefits, including reduced rework costs, improved first-time-right rates, and enhanced operational efficiency. The structured approach to supplier quality management also helps organizations better manage supplier relationships and reduce supply chain risks.

Implementation Roadmap for Achieving AS9110 Certification

The path to AS9110 certification requires systematic planning, resource commitment, and expert guidance to navigate the complex requirements effectively.

Phase 1: Assessment and Gap Analysis

Begin with a comprehensive gap analysis comparing your existing quality management system with AS9110 requirements. This assessment should evaluate current processes, documentation, training programs, and organizational readiness for certification.

Phase 2: Quality Management System Development

Develop and implement a quality management system that aligns with AS9110 requirements. This includes creating documented procedures, work instructions, and quality records that demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements.

Phase 3: Training and Competence Development

Ensure all personnel understand their roles within the quality management system. This includes training on AS9110 requirements, quality procedures, and the importance of maintaining quality standards in daily operations.

Phase 4: Internal Auditing and Management Review

Establish robust internal audit programs and management review processes to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement. These systems should identify opportunities for improvement and address potential non-conformities before external certification audits.

Phase 5: Certification Audit and Continuous Improvement

Work with an accredited certification body to complete the certification audit process. After achieving certification, maintain focus on continuous improvement to maximize the ongoing benefits of your quality management system.

How BPRHub Transforms AS9110 Implementation and Maintenance

Most aerospace MRO organizations struggle with AS9110 implementation because traditional approaches rely on document-heavy, manual processes that create compliance bottlenecks rather than operational excellence. BPRHub's AI-powered Quality, Compliance, and Governance (QCG) platform transforms AS9110 from a compliance burden into a competitive advantage.

BPRHub's unified platform consolidates AS9110 requirements with 30+ other aerospace standards, including AS9100, ISO 9001, and sector-specific regulations into a single, intelligent interface. The platform combines AI QCG (the connected compliance grid) with AI SQM (Supplier Quality Management) to automate and streamline maintenance quality management.

Automated SCAR Workflows 

BPRHub transforms supplier corrective action requests from time-consuming manual processes into standardized workflows with clear status progression from Raised to Closure. Each SCAR has designated owners, due dates, and automated escalation protocols ensuring AS9110 supplier quality requirements are consistently met.

Real-Time Audit Readiness 

The platform maintains continuous audit readiness through automated documentation, real-time compliance dashboards, and intelligent alerts. Organizations can confidently face AS9110 surveillance audits knowing their quality management system documentation is always current and complete with full audit trails.

Predictive Risk Assessment 

BPRHub's AI capabilities identify potential quality issues before they become problems, enabling proactive corrective actions that prevent costly failures and maintain the stringent quality levels required by AS9110. The platform flags likely nonconformities and surfaces risk patterns across supplier and internal operations.

Certificate and Compliance Tracking 

The platform automatically manages supplier certificates (ISO, AS9100, and customer-specific certifications) with expiry alerts, version history, and complete audit trails. This ensures AS9110's supplier qualification requirements are consistently maintained across the supplier base.

Centralized Record Retention

BPRHub automatically manages quality records according to AS9110 requirements, ensuring proper retention periods and easy retrieval during audits or customer reviews while maintaining the technical data control requirements specific to aerospace MRO.

Transform AS9110 from a compliance obligation into a competitive advantage with BPRHub.

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Key Takeaways

→ AS9110 certification is essential for aerospace MRO organizations serving the rapidly growing global market, projected to reach $120.96 billion by 2030

→ The standard transforms reactive maintenance operations into proactive quality management systems that prevent failures and reduce operational risks

→ AS9110 opens access to high-value contracts from major airlines, government agencies, and OEMs that require certified suppliers

→ Implementation requires systematic planning across gap analysis, system development, training, and continuous improvement phases

→ BPRHub's AI-powered platform eliminates compliance complexity by unifying AS9110 with 30+ other standards in a single intelligent interface

→ Organizations achieve measurable benefits, including reduced rework costs, improved customer confidence, and enhanced operational efficiency

FAQs

What is the difference between AS9110 and AS9100 standards?

AS9100 is designed for aerospace manufacturing, design, and production organizations, while AS9110 specifically targets maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations. AS9110 builds upon AS9100's foundation but adds nearly 100 additional requirements specific to maintenance operations, including enhanced focus on configuration management, human factors, and post-production quality control processes.

How long does it typically take to achieve AS9110 certification?

Timelines vary significantly depending on organizational size, existing QMS maturity, scope of certification, and available resources. Organizations with an established ISO 9001 or AS9100 system often progress faster than greenfield implementations.

Is AS9110 certification mandatory for aerospace MRO operations?

While AS9110 certification is not legally mandatory, it has become a practical requirement for competitive participation in the aerospace MRO market. Many major airlines, government agencies, and OEMs require their maintenance providers to hold AS9110 certification, making it essential for accessing high-value contracts and partnerships.

What are the main challenges organizations face during AS9110 implementation?

The primary challenges include developing maintenance-specific documentation, establishing robust supplier quality management processes, implementing effective configuration control systems, and training personnel on human factors considerations. Many organizations also struggle with integrating AS9110 requirements with existing regulatory compliance obligations from the FAA, EASA, and other aviation authorities.

How does AS9110 integrate with existing FAA Part 145 requirements?

AS9110 complements rather than replaces FAA Part 145 requirements. The standard addresses quality management aspects that go beyond regulatory minimums, helping organizations achieve operational excellence while maintaining full regulatory compliance. Many AS9110 requirements actually strengthen an organization's ability to meet Part 145 obligations consistently.

What ongoing obligations exist after achieving AS9110 certification?

AS9110 certification requires ongoing surveillance audits annually and a full recertification audit every three years. Organizations must maintain continuous compliance with all standard requirements, conduct regular internal audits, perform management reviews, and demonstrate ongoing improvement in their quality management system performance.