QUALITY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION BODIES: PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL DATA BASE

For some months a discussion has been raging on a LinkedIn group around the possibility of establishing an international data base to which organisations could refer if they wish to confirm the certification status of a company or agency re ISO standards.The data base would be set up using the International Aerospace Quality Group data base, OASIS, as a model.

While this might seem a very attractive proposition, purporting to save time now spent in checking accredited lists in many different countries, I believe there is one major hurdle which its more enthusiastic proponents don’t seem to have considered.

The OASIS database is a product of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). OASIS houses supplier and audit assessment data for all companies who hold an accredited certification in any of the AQMS series of Standards (i.e. – AS9100, AS9110 and AS9120). The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) has set firm requirements regarding the inclusion of aerospace certified suppliers in the OASIS database. It is not optional – if you hold an accredited certificate to AS9100, AS9110 or AS9120 – you must be entered into the OASIS database. SAE International document AS9104 details the Certification Bodies’ requirements for Aerospace Certification Programs.

If any aerospace certified supplier refuses to be a part of OASIS, or refuses to set up an OASIS administrator, Certification Bodies are required by the IAQG to revoke the certificate of registration.

It is one thing to register all certified organisations on an international database; it is quite another to impose the above restriction.