Aerospace manufacturing carries higher stakes than nearly any other industry. Every process, material, and document must support airworthiness and safety. AS9100 provides that level of assurance.
Choose AS9100 when:
- You supply parts or services to aerospace, defense, or space customers.
- Your customers explicitly require AS9100 certification.
- You need to strengthen traceability, risk control, or configuration management.
- You plan to bid on contracts that require defense or aerospace compliance.
In contrast, choose ISO 9001 if your operation serves diverse industries and needs a flexible, scalable quality framework without aerospace-specific overhead.
For example, a small precision machine shop in Ohio that manufactures components for both automotive and aerospace customers might pursue ISO 9001 first to establish a foundation, then transition to AS9100 once aerospace contracts become a larger share of its business.
ISO 9001 or AS9100 for Ohio Manufacturing Plant
Ohio manufacturers face unique competitive pressures. With a strong mix of aerospace, automotive, and industrial production, facilities often need to decide which certification best matches their customer base and strategic goals.
- If your primary customers are industrial or food-processing companies, ISO 9001 provides the right balance of structure and flexibility. It supports consistency, compliance, and efficiency without unnecessary aerospace-specific documentation.
- If your customers include aerospace primes or defense contractors, AS9100 certification will open doors to new contracts and increase your credibility in regulated supply chains.
For most Ohio facilities, the choice depends on customer expectations and long-term growth strategy. Many companies start with ISO 9001 to build a strong quality foundation, then upgrade to AS9100 as they enter aerospace markets.
Which Standard Is Better for a Food-Processing Facility in the Midwest?
A food-processing facility in the Midwest would not typically need AS9100 certification. ISO 9001 is a better fit because it provides a structured, risk-based approach to process management without the additional aerospace-specific clauses.
For food manufacturers, ISO 9001 certification can also complement industry-specific systems such as HACCP or ISO 22000, helping demonstrate control over documentation, supplier quality, and corrective actions.
AS9100’s requirements for configuration management, counterfeit part prevention, and airworthiness documentation are unnecessary for food processing and would add cost without providing value.
Should My Company Use ISO 9001 or AS9100 for Quality Management?
To decide, consider the following:
- Customer Requirements
Do your customers require AS9100 certification? If yes, that settles it. If not, ISO 9001 may be enough. - Industry Regulation
Aerospace and defense programs require AS9100; general industry and commercial sectors accept ISO 9001. - Process Complexity
If your production involves high-risk, safety-critical components, AS9100 provides stronger controls. - Growth Plans
If you plan to expand into aerospace, consider starting with ISO 9001 and transitioning to AS9100 later. - Cost and Maintenance
AS9100 certification takes more time, documentation, and audit effort, but it offers greater access to aerospace opportunities.
Ultimately, ISO 9001 ensures consistency and customer satisfaction for any manufacturer, while AS9100 adds the aerospace-specific rigor that high-risk sectors demand.
The Bottom Line
For manufacturers across the United States, ISO 9001 and AS9100 are not competing standards—they are steps on the same quality journey. ISO 9001 forms the base, and AS9100 builds on it to meet the exceptional demands of the aerospace industry.
If you operate a facility in Ohio or the broader Midwest, think strategically. ISO 9001 is ideal for broad industrial or food-processing applications, while AS9100 is essential for companies that design, build, or supply parts to aerospace and defense customers.
Contact Effective Quality Services to determine which certification best fits your goals and start building a stronger quality management system today.
