AS9100 Certification Body

How to Select the Right AS9100 Certification Body — and Prepare for a Successful Audit

If your organization is pursuing AS9100 certification, one of the most important decisions you will make is selecting the right AS9100 certification body.

A certification body (also called a registrar) is the accredited organization that conducts your audit and issues your AS9100 certificate. Choosing the right one — and preparing properly — can significantly impact audit outcomes, timelines, and long-term certification success.

At Wintersmith Advisory, we are not a certification body. We are an independent AS9100 consultant who helps aerospace organizations prepare for certification and confidently navigate registrar audits.

What Is an AS9100 Certification Body?

An AS9100 certification body is:

An accredited third-party auditing organization
Authorized to assess compliance to AS9100
Responsible for issuing certification upon successful audit
Subject to oversight by accreditation authorities

They conduct:

Stage 1 (documentation readiness) audit
Stage 2 (full system implementation) audit
Annual surveillance audits
Recertification audits every three years

Certification bodies do not provide consulting services. Their role is to independently verify compliance.

How to Choose the Right AS9100 Certification Body

Not all registrars are equal. Key factors to evaluate include:

Accreditation Status

Ensure the certification body is accredited under an internationally recognized accreditation body.

Aerospace Experience

Your auditors should understand:

Aerospace manufacturing controls
Special processes
Configuration management
Counterfeit parts prevention
Risk management expectations

Auditor Consistency

Ask about:

Auditor rotation policies
Lead auditor experience
Industry specialization

Cost Structure

Fees typically include:

Stage 1 audit
Stage 2 audit
Surveillance audits
Travel expenses

Lower upfront fees do not always mean lower total cost.

Common Mistakes When Selecting a Certification Body

Choosing solely based on price
Not verifying aerospace audit experience
Failing to understand audit time calculations
Underestimating documentation readiness requirements
Entering the audit without a full internal audit completed

These mistakes often result in major nonconformities and costly corrective action cycles.

How Wintersmith Advisory Supports You

We remain fully independent from certification bodies — protecting audit integrity and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Our support includes:

AS9100 gap assessment
Full QMS implementation or remediation
Internal audits aligned to AS9100 clauses
Management review preparation
Risk register validation
Special process documentation review
Pre-assessment audit simulation
Certification body selection guidance

We help you walk into your registrar audit confident and prepared.

What Does an AS9100 Certification Audit Look Like?

Stage 1 Audit

QMS documentation review
Scope confirmation
Readiness evaluation

Stage 2 Audit

Process effectiveness verification
Risk-based thinking evaluation
Production controls
Supplier controls
Configuration management
Product safety controls
Counterfeit parts prevention
Internal audit and management review review

Any nonconformities must be addressed before certification is granted.