REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AEROSPACE & DEFENSE PRODUCT COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
Building an effective product compliance program can be a heavy task for any company, but those working within the aerospace and defense industry have an especially difficult set of challenges, demanding a different approach. A complete understanding of the challenges and requirements surrounding aerospace and defense compliance systems can help you build an effective response that navigates those obstacles proactively. Aerospace and defense part compositions are difficult to collect data and report on efficiently. In an industry where there is no room for error, parts used to manufacture air-ready products have complex specifications and are often moved through several custom processes (e.g. plating, hardening, heat treatment) before they are ready to be sent to the next level of manufacture. Each of these processes needs to be performed in consideration of various requirements and documented accordingly.
Further complicating the reporting process, the way parts are manufactured has changed (see Figure 1.1 below). In the past, products were largely manufactured by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). However, globalization has led to an increase in outsourcing. Original equipment manufacturers often source the sub-parts their products are composed of from other countries and must comply with varying regulations that govern the way those items are produced, maintained, repaired, and operated. Given that many of these requirements are still new, your company’s current system may not be equipped to manage the extra data collection burden.
Companies must take a proactive approach to data collection, ensuring finished products are composed of approved substances and were manufactured through compliant processes. To do this, you must first form a comprehensive understanding of how aerospace and defense products are produced. This whitepaper will help you understand aerospace and defense part hierarchies and how data is exchanged between companies, and offer best practices to help you mount an effective response to the growing regulatory landscape that faces the industry.
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