The best of the best

Throughout industry, the Performance Review Institute (PRI) communicates with the wider audience to share the profound benefits and value of Nadcap accreditation. Aerospace Manufacturing reports.

Demanding exacting standards from its subcontract manufacturers, a safety-regulated sector like the aerospace industry relies on a consistent and reliable supply chain, which is critical when producing the high quality components demanded by the latest aircraft programmes.

Launched in 1990, the National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Programme (Nadcap) is the Prime subcontractors’ attempt to coordinate the supply chain and develop industry-wide criteria for processes and products. More than twenty five years later Nadcap approval has become an important yardstick that companies seek if they want to win business in the competitive aerospace sector.

In our February 2016 issue, Joe Pinto, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, Performance Review Institute (PRI) describes Nadcap as: ‘an intense, objective, technically focused audit that validates compliance to customer requirements and not a general quality audit such as ISO9000 or AS9100’. He believes that receiving Nadcap accreditation is a significant achievement and represents a milestone because it demonstrates a company has attained a level of technical process capability that is internationally recognised by industry peers.

A collaborative effort

In a sometimes guarded industry that can be full of non-disclosure agreements between OEMs and suppliers, Nadcap has helped improve communication down the supply chain and foster a collaborative environment. Indeed, Jeff Lott, Nadcap’s management council chairperson and special processes manager at Boeing said: ‘As a customer I feel the partnership of the suppliers and subscribers in the Nadcap Programme raises the quality of services for air vehicles and ensures better compliance to the design, ultimately contributing to safer air travel for everyone’.

Since Nadcap was first conceived, the aerospace supply chain landscape has changed significantly to become more global in nature. The programme continues to reach all the global suppliers via a level of consistency that means suppliers are evaluated according to the same requirements, and for the Prime contractors, this can prove very valuable.

Nadcap’s latest initiative is in directing focus on several areas of the industry, including measurement and inspection (which, it claims may become the largest commodity area in the entire programme) and metallic and composite materials.

Generally, Nadcap tends to focus on special processes, such as chemical processing, heat treatment, and non-destructive testing among others. Special process accreditation is probably what Nadcap is most renowned for, although its reach is far broader in scope. Nadcap already accredits some raw materials, such as carbon fibre, resins and adhesives, prepreg materials and honeycomb core.

All aboard the programme

Companies looking to participate in Nadcap have the option of attending three Nadcap meetings held around the world each year, comprising technical discussions about its audit checklist content. The meetings are free to attend and represent an ideal opportunity to network, as well as learn more about Nadcap. Free Nadcap-oriented training is offered through eQuaLearn at every Nadcap meeting with topics that include Root Cause Corrective Action, Pyrometry, and Nadcap Audit Preparation.

“Since I began working at PRI in 2010, my focus has been on customer service, particularly for the thousands of global aerospace industry representatives involved in Nadcap programme - Primes as well as suppliers,” states Pinto. “These technology and quality experts spend a significant amount of time and resource preparing for Nadcap audits, addressing individual and industry-wide areas of concern and working together to share lessons learned, best practices and ways to improve the industry for the benefit of all stakeholders. In return, they deserve our best efforts to assist them achieve their objectives.

“Throughout industry, we’ve been able to communicate with a wider audience and share the benefits and value of Nadcap accreditation. Hopefully the insights into the audit and accreditation process will help our customers understand how to make the most of the experience including improved process capability and control, product quality and from a commercial perspective.”

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