AS9100 vs ISO 9001: which certification does your part need?
A plain-language breakdown of when the aerospace standard is mandatory - and when it just adds cost.
Quick answer: ISO 9001:2015 is the baseline quality-management standard used across manufacturing. AS9100 (Rev D) builds on it for aerospace and defence, adding traceability, risk management, configuration control and counterfeit-parts prevention. If your part flies, or feeds a program that flies, AS9100 is effectively mandatory, the prime will not accept a supplier without it. For everything else, ISO 9001 is enough, and paying for aerospace certification you do not need just adds cost.
What AS9100 adds on top of ISO 9001
AS9100 is ISO 9001 plus the requirements aerospace and defence supply chains demand: part and material traceability, formal risk management, configuration control, and counterfeit-parts prevention. It is the same quality-system backbone with the extra rigor that flight-critical work requires.
| Standard | Covers | When it is required |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | General quality management | Industrial, consumer, most commercial |
| AS9100 Rev D | Aerospace and defence QMS | Flight and defence parts |
| ISO 13485 | Medical device QMS | Medical parts |
| IATF 16949 | Automotive production QMS | Automotive production |
When AS9100 is mandatory
If your part goes on an aircraft or into a program that does, AS9100 is effectively required by the prime contractor. Aerospace and defence supply chains will not flow work to a shop without it, and asking is not optional. The aerospace corridor around Montreal runs on this certification.
When ISO 9001 is enough, and when AS9100 is overkill
For industrial, consumer and most commercial work, ISO 9001 proves a mature quality system without the aerospace overhead. Do not let a shop upsell you AS9100 for a commercial bracket. That certification is real cost, audits, documentation, traceability, and it is priced into every part. If your part does not fly, ISO 9001 is the right answer and the cheaper one.
How to decide
Ask your customer what their flow-down requirements are before you specify anything. Different sectors need different standards: ISO 13485 for medical, IATF 16949 for automotive production. Then match the shop to the exact certification, and verify the certificate against the issuing registry rather than taking a logo on a website at face value.
What to send for a quote
Your part, the sector it serves, and the exact certification your program requires. Request quotes and we route only to shops that hold it and can prove it.
FAQ
Is AS9100 the same as ISO 9001?
No. AS9100 contains all of ISO 9001 and adds aerospace-specific requirements (traceability, risk, configuration, counterfeit prevention). A shop with AS9100 also meets ISO 9001; the reverse is not true.
Do I need AS9100 for a non-aerospace part?
Almost never. It is required when the part flies or feeds a flight program. For commercial, industrial and consumer work, ISO 9001 is the appropriate standard and costs less.
Does AS9100 cost more?
Yes, indirectly. The audits, documentation and traceability behind AS9100 are overhead that shows up in the part price. That is the right trade for flight-critical work and the wrong one for a shelf bracket.
How do I verify a shop's certification?
Check the certificate against the issuing registry, not just a claim on a site. On Made to Spec, certifications are treated as hard, exact filters and confirmed before a shop is marked verified.
What certification do medical or automotive parts need?
ISO 13485 for medical devices, IATF 16949 for automotive production. Both are sector-specific quality systems built on the ISO 9001 base, like AS9100 is for aerospace.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Related reading: where your drawing lives and reshoring to Canada.
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