By Lily Bearings
©2004-2008
GGB, formerly Glacier Garlock Bearings, has been certified as complying with the requirements of the aerospace industry¡¯s AS 9100B quality management system for the manufacture of metal-backed bearings and filament-wound bearings and washers. Conducting the audit and conferring the certification was UL DQS Inc.
"This certification carries with it membership in the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System, which in turn provides exposure to the members of the International Aerospace Quality Group," said Paul Cameron, quality assurance manager, GGB North America. "This will allow us to pursue business opportunities with group members, which include all the world¡¯s major aerospace companies."
The industry is moving toward requiring its suppliers to be AS 9100-compliant. Boeing, for example, currently requires all suppliers to comply with its own quality management system, which includes many of the AS 9100B requirements. And General Electric Aircraft Engines, among the first manufacturers to require direct material suppliers to comply with AS 9000, now requires all new suppliers to be certified to AS 9100B.
By implementing and maintaining a certified quality management system for aerospace products, GGB can now satisfy the requirements of prime contractors in the U.S., Canada and South America. Designed to reduce variance in processes and procedures, the system fosters continuous improvement to deliver consistently high-quality products, thereby reducing non-value-added activities and costs.
AS 9100 certification provides GGB access to the best practices of the aerospace industry, aligning its quality management system with the industry¡¯s global standard.
In the process, it reduces multiple expectations and the number of second- and third-party audits. Independent feedback informs the continuous improvement process, which reduces waste, inefficiencies and defects, and improves process consistency and stability for greater customer satisfaction. For more information, email usa@ggbearings.com or visit www.ggbearings.com.