Certifications

Manufacturing certifications verify a supplier’s quality, compliance, and traceability systems, reducing risk for regulated parts through audited processes and documented controls.

Overview

Certifications are formal, auditable requirements that confirm a manufacturer runs controlled processes: documented procedures, training, calibration, inspection, traceability, corrective actions, and record retention. They don’t make parts by themselves; they reduce program risk by proving the shop can consistently build to spec and support regulated documentation.

Choose certified suppliers when your part or customer requires controlled quality systems or legal/regulatory compliance. Common frameworks include ISO 9001 (general quality), AS9100 (aerospace), ISO 13485 (medical devices), IATF 16949 (automotive), ISO 14001 (environmental), NADCAP (special processes), plus regulatory/compliance statuses like ITAR registration, DFARS compliance, and FFL. Tradeoffs are higher overhead, stricter documentation flowdown, longer onboarding, and sometimes higher piece price—usually offset by fewer escapes, cleaner traceability, and smoother audits.

Common Materials

  • Aluminum 6061
  • Stainless steel 316L
  • Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
  • Inconel 718
  • PEEK
  • ABS

Tolerances

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Applications

  • Flight-critical machined brackets with full traceability
  • Implantable device components with DHR/DMR documentation
  • Automotive PPAP production parts
  • NADCAP heat-treated aerospace fasteners
  • ITAR-controlled defense housings
  • Serialized assemblies requiring lot/batch genealogy

When to Choose Certifications

Pick certified suppliers when your drawing, PO, customer, or end market demands traceability, controlled processes, and audit-ready records. This matters most for safety-critical, regulated, or high-liability parts where escapes are expensive. It also fits recurring builds where stable processes and consistent documentation reduce long-term friction.

vs Standard (non-certified) job shop

Choose certifications when you need documented process controls, traceability, calibrated inspection systems, and auditable records. Certified shops are better aligned to flowdown requirements, controlled changes, and corrective-action response expectations.

vs In-house manufacturing

Choose certified suppliers when you don’t want to build and maintain the quality system infrastructure (procedures, internal audits, calibration, training, record retention). This is especially valuable when customer audits or regulatory compliance would otherwise land on your team.

vs Low-cost overseas contract manufacturing

Choose certifications when you need consistent documentation packages, reliable material/process traceability, and predictable audit outcomes. Certified suppliers typically handle flowdowns and record retention with fewer gaps that can stall receiving inspection or customer approval.

vs Prototype/quick-turn fabrication services

Choose certifications when prototypes must be production-representative with controlled materials, inspection plans, and traceable records. This reduces re-qualification work when you transition from prototype to regulated production.

Design Considerations

  • Call out the exact required cert and revision (e.g., AS9100D, ISO 13485:2016) and whether the scope must cover the specific process (machining, welding, coating, etc.).
  • Flow down documentation requirements explicitly: C of C, material certs, heat/lot traceability, FAIR/AS9102, PPAP, DHR/DHR equivalents, inspection reports.
  • Specify special process requirements by name (e.g., NADCAP heat treat, NDT method) and identify who owns sub-tier approval.
  • Define serialization, UID marking, and record-retention expectations up front to avoid rework in labeling and traveler planning.
  • List controlled characteristics and inspection method expectations (CMM, torque verification, leak test) so the supplier can price inspection time accurately.
  • Confirm export-control/compliance needs early (ITAR/DFARS/FFL) and state data-handling requirements for models, drawings, and communication.