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 1^st July 2012 and a timeline map is available on this blog.

The days required for AS9100 Rev C transition audits are as follows:

1. Transition during surveillance audit using 50% of initial audit day requirements as per IAF MD 5 (this table is available to view within Doc 007 on the IMS website) and 100% of the initial audit day requirements of the current AS9104 standard which has also been published on the IMS website.

• Example; organisation with 10 employees who perform design duties: IAF MD 5 requires 2 days for the initial and AS9104 requires 1.5 days.  Taking 50% of the IAF MD 5 requirement gives you 1 day.  Therefore the total amount of time required would be 2.5 days.

1. Transition during recertification audit using 80% of initial audit day requirements of IAF MD 5 and 100% of the initial audit day requirements of the current AS9104 standard.

• Example; organisation with 10 employees who perform design duties: IAF MD 5 requires 2 days for the initial and AS9104 requires 1.5 days.  Taking 80% of the IAF MD 5 requirement gives you 1.6 days which has to be rounded up to the nearest ½ day so that takes you back to 2.  Therefore the total number of days required would be 3.5 days.

1. The audit reports are no longer permitted to be completed on-site; therefore a small amount of additional time shall be added to the allocated time to complete this, there are no reductions allowed from the AS9104 table.  The good news is that the scoring mechanism is no longer a requirement; I know a number of you will be happy to hear this.

For Multiple Site organisations the transition during their existing audit cycle, IMS are required to:

1. Close out the site surveillance audits against the previous AS9100B standard by issuing an audit report for all sites audited prior to conducting the surveillance transition to AS9100C.
2. Complete the audits to the AS9100C standard for all sites required to be audited for a given surveillance cycles.
3. Complete the Central Function (Head Office) audit and the planned sites audits for that surveillance cycle to the AS9100C standard prior to certification.

For Multiple Site organisations that transition during their recertification year, IMS is required to:

1. Complete the Central Function (Head Office) audit and all sites audits for that recertification cycle to the new AS9100C standard prior to recertification.

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.