Welcome to the IMS International LLP blog which we hope you will find informative and useful for keeping up to date with changes and developments within IMS and the Certification industry. You can subscribe to the site to receive regular updates automatically by clicking on the RSS feed in the sidebar.
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Kind Regards
The IMS Team
IMS International in Partnership with CMC International have spaces available for the next ISO 9001:2008 IRCA Lead Auditor Course to be held the week commencing 8th November 2010 at the Dunton Hills Golf Course in Brentwood, Essex. The price of the course is £600 plus VAT and lasts for 5 days, all course literature is provided within the cost and lunch is provided.
The course is IRCA Registered and will allow all successful attendees to become approved Lead Auditors and perform internal audits or third party external audits.
If you are interested in attending the course please contact the IMS office on 013676 500068 or send an email to info {at} imsworld(.)org.
The OASIS Database is the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System and is used to aid in the management and transparency of the AS9100, AS9120 and AS9110 standards.
The OASIS database is free to join as a user and will give you access to all Certification Bodies (including IMS), all Training Providers, all Accreditation Bodies (UKAS), all Qualified Auditors, all Certified Organisations plus other bits of information with regards to the Aerospace Series of standards. Certificates can be validated and no one can enter information if they are not approved on the scheme which has reduced the uncertainty over some certificates out in the field which do not look genuine.
You are able to view any organisations approval status, view a copy of their certificate of registration and see when their last audits were. If you require, you can also ask for permission by the organisations administrator to view the details of the audit report.
Submission to the OASIS database is a mandatory requirement as part of the scheme and IMS personnel will upload all required documentation upon successful certification to one of the Aerospace standards. This is currently chargeable by the IAQG (International Aerospace Quality Group) on a three year subscription basis. Each certified client is required to setup an administrator who is responsible for managing their organisations information (address and contact details etc), they are also responsible for granting access to hidden information such as the audit report when requested. Having an administrator is a mandatory requirement and IMS will not issue a certificate until this process has been completed.
The OASIS database can also be used for researching possible new clients or suppliers. Anyone who is on the OASIS database will be involved in the aerospace or possibly the military industries so you can find customer and supplier information as required. This could be used to help manage your supplier approval status as alerts can be setup to inform you of information changing with regards to certain suppliers who you may be interested in.
There is also a feedback loop built into the database that can be used to feedback information to the Certification Body for any particular client. This can be good information, suggestions for areas to look at during the next audit or poor feedback. The Certification Body has to respond to any requests whether they are good or bad.
During the IMS surveillance visits we will be verifying the OASIS administrator within your organisation to ensure that the nominiated person remains employed and they have clear access to the database. Too many organisations are not even aware of the database and they have also struggled to gain access as the orginal administrator left a few years ago.
You can access the database by visiting www.iaqg.org and clicking on the oasis database hyperlink.
If you require any further information on the OASIS database or anything related to the aerospace scheme please do not hesitate to contact me.
We have now been given further guidance on the implementation plans for IMS and also clients to the new AS9000:2009 series of standards (AS9100, AS9120, AS9110).
Guidance has been released on the time required to complete the transition audit for clients, you need to be aware of this to help you plan your implementation process. As mentioned before, if you implement AS9100C now, you must still be compliant to AS9100B for the time being as Certification Bodies including IMS are not permitted to certify to the new standard until 2011. The deadline for transition is 1st July 2012 and a timeline map is available on this blog.
The days required for AS9100 Rev C transition audits are as follows:
For Multiple Site organisations the transition during their existing audit cycle, IMS are required to:
For Multiple Site organisations that transition during their recertification year, IMS is required to:
If your organisation runs shift patterns then this needs to be taken into consideration as the auditors are required to cover all shifts during the audit and additional time will be required.
In order for your to seek certification to the new AS9100C standard you must formally declare your interest to IMS by completing the audit questionnaires (Form 01 and Form 01B, both are available on the IMS website). Please ensure that you notify us of your planned date for certification to the new standard.
Prior to IMS performing the transition audit you are also required to formally declare to IMS your conformance to the new standard before we schedule the transition audit. This has been left open in terms of how to approach this, a simple letter or email would suffice.
IMS will ensure that we have systems in place for ensuring that all current AS9100 clients have completed their application and their declaration to make certain we are all compliant together.
If you should require any further guidance please do not hesitate to contact IMS using the usual contact methods.
EWIS is short for Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems and was introduced in September 2008 by European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration and requires holders of Type Certificates for large aircraft (CS-25-Certification Specifications for Large Aeroplane). An entirely new Subpart (Subpart H) has been added to CS-25.
The addition requires existing TC Holders to develop EWIS Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) derived from the Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure (EZAP) is imposed through the provisions of Part 21A.3B©1 for existing TCs, 21A.21©(3) for applicants for TC and 21A.103(a)(2)(iii) for applicants for changes to TC. All TC holders should have been notified of the applicability of those provisions through a dedicated letter in October 2008. FAR 26 has been introduced in the USA as the equivalent system requirement.
The applicant must conduct analyses if the STC requires a revision of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) applicable to Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) as defined below that include the following:
Maintenance and inspection requirements for the EWIS developed with the use of an Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure (EZAP) that includes:
a. Identification of each zone of the aeroplane.
b. Identification of each zone that contains EWIS.
c. Identification of each zone containing EWIS that also contains combustible materials.
d. Identification of each zone in which EWIS is in close proximity to both primary and back-up hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical flight controls and lines.
e. Identification of:
• Tasks, and the intervals for performing those tasks, that will reduce the likelihood of ignition sources and accumulation of combustible material, and
• Procedures, and the intervals for performing those procedures, that will effectively clean the EWIS components of combustible material if there is not an effective task to reduce the likelihood of combustible material accumulation.
f. Instructions for protections and caution information that will minimize contamination and accidental damage to EWIS, as applicable, during the performance of maintenance, alteration, or repairs.
The ICA must be in the form of a document appropriate for the information to be provided, and they must be easily recognizable as EWIS ICA.
Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedures (EZAP)
Zonal Inspection is a collective term comprising selected Visual Inspections and Visual Checks that are applied to each zone, defined by access and area, to check system and power plant installations and structure for security and general condition.
Levels of inspection applicable to EWIS.
Detailed Inspection (DET).
An intensive examination of a specific item, installation or assembly to detect damage, failure or irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as mirrors, magnifying lenses or other means may be necessary. Surface cleaning and elaborate access procedures may be required.
General Visual Inspection (GVI).
A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.
EWIS inspections may apply to the following components and systems:
(1) Wires and cables.
(2) Bus bars.
(3) The termination point on electrical devices, including those on relays, interrupters, switches, contactors, terminal blocks, and circuit breakers and other circuit protection devices.
(4) Connectors, including feed-through connectors.
(5) Connector accessories.
(6) Electrical grounding and bonding devices and their associated connections.
(7) Electrical splices.
(8) Materials used to provide additional protection for wires, including wire insulation, wire sleeving, and conduits that have electrical termination for the purpose of bonding.
(9) Shields or braids.
(10) Clamps and other devices used to route and support the wire bundle.
(11) Cable tie devices.
(12) Labels or other means of identification.
(13) Pressure seals.
(b) The definition in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph covers EWIS components inside shelves, panels, racks, junction boxes, distribution panels, and back-planes of equipment racks, including, but not limited to, circuit board back-planes, wire integration units and external wiring of equipment.
(c) Except for the equipment indicated in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, EWIS components inside the following equipment, and the external connectors that are part of that equipment, are excluded from the definition in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph:
(1) Electrical equipment or avionics that is qualified to environmental conditions and testing procedures when those conditions and procedures are :
(i) Appropriate for the intended function and operating environment, and
(ii) Acceptable to the Agency.
(2) Portable electrical devices that are not part of the type design of the aeroplane. This includes personal entertainment devices and laptop computers.
(3) Fibre optics.
The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 came into effect on the 27th April 2010
The purpose of the regulation is to protect workers against exposure to harmful artificial light, such as laser displays and includes sources of ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light. Too much exposure to certain light sources can be harmful to the eyes and the skin.
Examples of hazardous sources of very intense light that pose a ‘reasonably forseable’ risk of harming the yes and skin of workers and where control measures are needed include:
Less common hazardous sources can be associated with specialist activities – for example companies manufacturing or repairing equipment containing lasers which would otherwise be hidden.
Organisations already have duties under existing health and safety law to protect workers against these hazards, and the new AOR regulations restate the requirement for risk assessment, taking steps to eliminate or reduce risks, providing necessary training, and where appropriate, health surveillance.
Safe light sourcesinclude the vast majority used in the workplace such as:
More intense sources could be a problem if they are stared at for long periods or if they are in very close proximity to workers. It is our natural instinct to look away from these before harm can occur and in addition, they are often used at a safe distance from workers. These measures continue to be acceptable and no special conditions are required. Examples include:
What should you already be doing?
For further information and guidance visit the hse website
Terry Westley of TW Associates
The Bribery Act 2010 has now been passed in UK Parliament and is due to come into force 1st October 2010.
The Acts defines four new criminal offences:
The Act includes employees and Top Management personnel such as Directors and may lead to a maximum of 10 years’ in prison and unlimited fines so this Act is not to be treated lightly.
It has been suggested that organisations need to put in place provisions to prevent the possible acts of bribery through “adequate procedures” designed to prevent bribery occurring. Gifts from clients and suppliers may constitute bribery.
The full Bribery Act 2010 can be downloaded from the OPSI website.
Not everyone is 100% clear on the certification process from initial application to the certificate being issued so we have developed this simple flowchart to detail this. It also highlights what the auditor will be looking at during each of the stages (stage 1 and stage 2).
The same process will be followed should a currently certified client wish to add another site or standard such as ISO 14001 when they already have ISO 9001 in place.
If you require any specific or further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
ISO Certification Audit Process and what the Auditor will review during the stage 1 and stage 2 audit
The scope of certification is often overlooked by clients and it is very important that the scope reflects your activities. The scope of certification needs to be unambiguous and consistent with your activities.
The scope of certification and audit is shown on the audit plans which is submitted a few weeks prior to the audit taking place, clients need to review this scope and ensure that no changes are required. Unplanned scope changes cannot be amended during the audit and any changes need to be formally submitted to IMS prior to any activity.
A review is required of the requested changes to ensure that the current assigned auditor is competent to perform the audit against the amended scope, and that enough time has been allowed to complete the audit including the changes required.
If your current scope of certification is the “Refurbishment of Private Dwellings” and you now expand into “Demolition of Properties” then this area will need to be audited in order to bring it into your scope. This process needs to be planned into the forthcoming audit and consideration needs to be taken for the auditor competence, no auditor will be allowed to arrive on the day of the audit and change the scope.
There will not generally be an issue bringing new activities into your scope and in most cases additional audit time will not be required. However, auditors are not authorised to make that decision during the audit, therefore it is very important that you let the head office know prior to the audit that you wish to make a change to the scope.
Please ensure that when you receive the audit plans these are reviewed for content and times and the scope remains accurate. Contact the head office as soon as possible to request a scope change, this must be received in writing.
If you have any questions regarding the above then please do not hesitate to contact us.
As of the 14th April 2010 Aircraft Engines and Propellers previously exported to the UK under FAA Form 8130-4, Export Certificate of Airworthiness will now need to be exported under FAA Form 8130-3, Authorized Release Certificate.
Complete aircraft will continue to be exported under FAA Form 8140-4.
The FAA revised Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 1, 21 and 45.
See the FAA, CAA and EASA websites for further details.
November 2008 marked the release of ISO 9001:2008 to replace ISO 9001:2000 and brought with it a number of minor amendments.
Whilst most client’s have already implemented the changes required to meet the new standard there still remains a number of organisations who need to make the changes in time for the deadline.
All organisations currently certified to ISO 9001:2000 have until the 14th November 2010 to complete the transition otherwise their certification will lapse and the certification process will need to start again.
There were not any major changes to the standard so transition should not be a timely or difficult task, however, client’s will need to read the new standard carefully as some of the changes or not immediately apparent.
If anyone is concerned that they may not be able to make the deadline please do not hesitate to contact IMS and we will aim to help you as much as possible.
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