Bridging the Gaps: The Development of the IA9150 Quality Management System

In this episode of The Quality Horizon, Mark Rodriguez, the LM Fellow for Quality Assurance at Lockheed Martin and Writing Team Lead for the International Aerospace 9150 Standard, discusses the development of this new IA9150 Foundational Quality Management System Standard.  

Joined by his team leads and technical advisor, Mark explains the purpose and origin of the standard, covers the gaps identified in existing standards, the specific organizations that would benefit from IA9150, and the extensive research conducted with global stakeholders.  

Transcript

Susan Matson: [00:18 – 00:34] Greetings, everyone, and welcome. I'm your host, Susan Matson, and with me today is Mark Rodriguez. Mark is the LM Fellow, Quality Assurance for Lockheed Martin. Additionally, he is the Writing Team Lead for the International Aerospace 9150 Standard. Mark, welcome to the show. 

Mark Rodriguez: [00:35 – 01:05] Thank you, Susan. Thank you for this opportunity to share about 9150. With me today are my team leads. We have Jim Lee, who is the Americas lead, Jeffrey Ho, who is the Asian Pacific lead, and Antonio Saldana, who is the European lead. Additionally, we have Dr. Keith Holbertuck, who is our technical advisor. So, thank you all team very much. We had a great week. working and we're excited to share some information. 

 Susan Matson: [01:05 – 01:44]  Thanks Mark and I know that you have been doing a lot with the IAQG. And I really do want to focus on the 9150 because you've been doing so much work lately. So let's talk about that. It's the IA9150 Foundational Quality Management System. So let's introduce this to our listeners today, if you don't mind. What's the purpose, the origin, and maybe where the team is as you're in the middle of writing it. So if we could start things off. Mark, can you explain the reasoning for the IA-950 and maybe what are the gaps that were identified to make this even possible? 

Mark Rodriguez: [01:45 – 02:11] Sure, so the 9150 is a new basic quality management system standard and it's for the aviation space and defense supply chain who provide low to moderately complex products and services. And its focus is on essential elements that influence product quality and minimize complex and excessive requirements. 

Susan Matson: [02:12 – 02:20] Okay, so how does the IA9150 fit in the framework of the other IAQG standards? 

Mark Rodriguez: [02:21 – 02:45] Well, it will provide a certifiable robust quality management system alternative to 9001. and also differs from 9100 because it will be independent from the ISO standard structure. So it will not be tied to the same revision schedule and cycles that 9001 and 9100 have. 

Susan Matson: [02:45 – 02:57] Okay, so you already kind of prompted my very next question about the development of it and it sounds like there's not a one-size-fits-all here. Can you explain that a little more? 

 Mark Rodriguez: [02:57 – 03:48] Sure. So one of the things that prompted this was because the solution for a one size for all limitations for a QMS doesn't work. 9,000, I'm sorry, 9,100 can be difficult to identify and apply unique requirements for a 9,150 target supplier. Also, ASD customers flow down 9100, but allow alternative certifications such as 9001 or 9003. Those are both used and as acceptable. However, those do not have the visibility or the access to the OASIS and fully implement their capabilities. 

Susan Matson: [03:49 – 03:56] Okay, so who are these organizations, these specific types of organizations that would benefit from this? 

Mark Rodriguez: [03:56 – 04:24] So basically, these are companies that would, within the supply chain, that meet a specific criteria. For example, small series suppliers, people that build unique or niche type of products, also make-to-print suppliers of small products, startup companies in need of a QMS, or uncertified companies that are looking to gain work into the ASD industry. 

Susan Matson: [04:25 – 04:41] Okay, so it sounds like there's been a lot of research obviously, and that went into this, but Where did you or how did you gather the input from the global stakeholders? Can you talk about that research that went into this? 

Mark Rodriguez: [04:41 – 05:50] Sure. So the beginnings of this started in the AAQG, America's Space and Defense Forum. So, we had had meetings with our key customers, like DCMA, NASA, FAA, and they were looking for something that was different. So, something that would be more isolated to this target audience. So, we put a pitch together and submitted it to the AAQG. From there it grew support and confidence so we presented it to the IAQG Space and Defense Forum and we had you know both Siegfried Brawner and Andre Lacroix who were champions in the beginning to promote this at the General Assembly and give that decision to the EC to support it. After that support was given, we went to EC with a project template and got their approval and their 9150 was approved to begin work. 

Susan Matson: [05:50 – 06:01] That's wonderful, but I bet there were some challenges along the way. So, let's talk about what were some of the things that maybe were a little bit of a roadblock that you had to work through. 

Mark Rodriguez: [06:02 – 06:55] So during this development, we also took into consideration some of the 9100 IRT information and those conclusions. So we took that into consideration. We also went with the key stakeholders like NASA, DCMA, and got their inputs as well. As we were developing the design specification, some of the things that came up were topics like design authority, whether it was going to be in or out. Also, definition of low or moderate complexity products rather than the size of the organization also was an issue we had to make, you know, come to a justification with. also 9150 is not a replacement for 9100. 

Susan Matson: [06:57 – 07:00] So what are then the topics for at the IA 9150? 

Mark Rodriguez: [07:02 – 07:48] The topics right now is this is the work that we've been doing. So we've had working on what we call the structure of the standard. So that means that we're having putting labels to major topics and some of the subtopics that are going to be categorized underneath there. So we've been working on that for a while now. And you'll see in another ballot for that structure of the standards soon. So it's going to go out for a 28-day ballot where we'll get some comments and feedback in from other stakeholders and the voters to help us ensure that the content that we want to present, move forward, and write shall statements to is included. 

Susan Matson: [07:48 – 08:08] Okay, so this year, let's kind of switch gears a little, this year we have been doing, with the IAQG, talking about digital transformation and having those documentation and that information digital. How does the IA9150 align with that trend for the digital transformation? 

Mark Rodriguez: [08:09 – 08:29]  So this will be the first IAQG standard written in a digital format. The structure of the standard will be written to be easily identifiable for use in various digital formats and models. However, it will be available in print format for easy accessibility across the supply chain. 

Susan Matson: [08:30 – 08:41]  So this isn't probably the first time you as a group have written a standard. How does writing for digital first, how does that change how you do and create a standard, write a standard? 

Mark Rodriguez: [08:41 – 09:25] So actually, it's been helpful. We're writing it in Microsoft Excel with singular and identifiable requirements. So it's basically one line per shall statement. And that's one of the features that has been promoted through the Space and Defense Forums through our customer base. So it's easily identifiable what the requirements are, et cetera. And then it's been made easier for us to organize and build this structure of the standard. We've been able to take topics that we listed in our brainstorming session and really start to sort them into the correct categories of the topics and avoid duplication along the way. 

Susan Matson: [09:26 – 09:44] It really, in the end, it sounds like it's going to make for an easier way to understand it, digest it, use it in today's digital world. So are there anything else you want to share with our listeners? the most part the first time they might be hearing about it. 

Mark Rodriguez: [09:44 – 10:21] Sure, so we'll be requesting feedback from interested parties and people that have expressed interest in joining the team across all of the sectors once the structure of the standard is more mature. Once it gets into the ballot, the 28-day ballot, we'll be reaching out and looking for subject matter experts to help us Craft those shall statements into the topics that we've determined and also, you know You can look forward to see more gate reviews or ballots throughout this standard Building process. 

Susan Matson: [10:21 – 10:36] Okay, and then the other thing would be as we get a little closer to we'll be able to share maybe a timeline and some information that might be on the iaqg.org site. So if people wanna learn more about it, and maybe we'll bring you back soon to talk more about it when it's published. 

Mark Rodriguez: [10:36 – 10:38] Great, love that opportunity. 

Susan Matson: [10:38 – 11:01] Well, thank you, Mark, and thank you everyone for all the hard work that you've been doing, putting the standard together. I know that our audience is looking forward to hearing more about the new standard. So best luck to the team as you bring the IA9150 to life. This is Susan Matson and you have been listening to the IAQG Quality Horizon. Until next time, stay safe.