What Aerospace Suppliers Need to Know
Breaking into the aerospace, defense, and space industry can be a great opportunity.
It can be especially exciting for small manufacturers, processors, and service providers. However, with that opportunity comes higher customer expectations for quality, consistency, and technical excellence.
If your company performs critical manufacturing processes, you may have heard customers mention Nadcap®. These processes include heat treating, chemical processing, welding, coatings, non-destructive testing (NDT), and composites. They can also include other specialized operations.
For many suppliers, Nadcap is not just another requirement. It is the credential that opens the door to business with the world’s largest aerospace companies.
What Is Nadcap?
Nadcap (formerly the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) is a global accreditation program.
It covers critical manufacturing processes used across the aerospace, defense, and space supply chain.
The Performance Review Institute (PRI) manages the program, and the program stands out because the industry manages it. Leading aerospace OEMs work together on shared technical requirements.
They use one standardized audit process instead of separate audits for each manufacturer. This reduces duplicate customer audits while increasing confidence in supplier capabilities.
Today, the Nadcap program includes:
- More than 4,500 accredited suppliers
- Over 60 subscribing aerospace OEMs
- 24 critical process accreditation programs covering a wide range of manufacturing technologies.
Why Does Nadcap Matter?
Unlike ISO 9001 or AS9100, which assess your organization’s overall quality management system, Nadcap focuses on specific manufacturing processes. It checks how well those processes are controlled and performed.
Many aerospace products contain components that simply cannot fail. Because of this, manufacturers want assurance that suppliers performing critical processes consistently meet stringent technical requirements.
Instead of undergoing multiple customer audits every year, Nadcap allows suppliers to complete one industry-recognized audit that is accepted by many major aerospace customers.
Who Needs Nadcap?
Not every aerospace supplier requires Nadcap accreditation.
Typically, it is expected of organizations performing critical or special processes, including:
- Heat Treating
- Chemical Processing
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Welding
- Coatings
- Composites Manufacturing
- Electronics
- Conventional and Nonconventional Machining
- Measurement and Inspection
- Additive Manufacturing
- Elastomer Seals
- And many additional process categories.
If your customers include companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, or other major aerospace manufacturers, Nadcap accreditation may become a supplier requirement.
Benefits for Small Businesses
While Nadcap can appear intimidating at first, many small businesses discover that the long-term benefits far outweigh the effort required.
Greater Access to Aerospace Customers
Many aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers require Nadcap accreditation before approving suppliers for certain manufacturing processes.
Accreditation demonstrates your technical capability before customers ever visit your facility.
Reduced Customer Audits
One of the original goals of Nadcap was to eliminate redundant supplier audits.
Instead of preparing for multiple customer assessments covering similar requirements, one successful Nadcap audit may satisfy numerous customer expectations.
Improved Process Control
Preparing for Nadcap often leads organizations to improve:
- Process documentation
- Equipment calibration
- Personnel qualifications
- Process validation
- Corrective action effectiveness
- Data collection and traceability
These improvements frequently reduce scrap, rework, and production variation.
Increased Customer Confidence
Customers know Nadcap-accredited suppliers have demonstrated compliance with rigorous industry-developed technical requirements.
This added confidence can strengthen supplier relationships and improve competitiveness.
How Is Nadcap Different from AS9100?
Many companies pursuing aerospace business already hold AS9100 certification. AS9100 is the Quality Management System standard for the air, space, and defense industry.
Although they complement one another, they serve different purposes.
For many suppliers, AS9100 serves as the foundation, while Nadcap demonstrates technical excellence in specialized manufacturing operations.
What Does a Nadcap Audit Evaluate?
Each accreditation has its own technical checklist, but auditors commonly review areas such as:
- Process procedures
- Operator qualifications
- Equipment maintenance
- Calibration systems
- Process controls
- Material traceability
- Inspection records
- Customer specifications
- Corrective actions
- Internal audits
- Record retention
Audits are performed by experienced technical auditors with expertise in the specific process being evaluated, and accreditation decisions are ultimately made through Nadcap’s industry-managed review process.
Common Challenges for Small Businesses
Many organizations underestimate the preparation required.
Some of the most common issues include:
- Incomplete documentation
- Poor record retention
- Inconsistent work instructions
- Insufficient employee training
- Weak internal audit programs
- Limited understanding of customer specifications
- Ineffective corrective action processes
Fortunately, these are all areas that can be addressed before the formal audit.
Preparing for Success
Companies that experience the smoothest Nadcap audits usually spend significant time preparing.
Helpful preparation activities include:
- Conducting a detailed gap assessment
- Reviewing applicable Nadcap audit criteria
- Training employees on technical requirements
- Performing internal process audits
- Validating equipment and process controls
- Closing nonconformities before the official audit
- Practicing root cause and corrective action techniques
Preparation not only increases the likelihood of accreditation but also reduces stress throughout the audit process.
How Core Business Solutions Can Help
At Core Business Solutions, we understand that many small businesses are entering the aerospace industry for the first time.
Our consultants help organizations prepare for Nadcap by simplifying what can otherwise be a very technical process.
Our support may include:
- Nadcap readiness assessments
- Gap analysis against applicable audit criteria
- Quality Management System improvements
- AS9100 implementation support
- Internal audit programs
- Employee training
- Corrective action coaching
- Documentation development
- Audit preparation and mock audits
Whether you’re pursuing your first aerospace customer or expanding into new critical process accreditations, our goal is to help you build a stronger, more reliable quality system while reducing the risk of surprises during your Nadcap audit.
Final Thoughts
For small businesses serving the aerospace supply chain, Nadcap accreditation can be a significant competitive advantage. It demonstrates technical competence, strengthens customer confidence, and helps reduce the burden of multiple customer audits.
Although achieving accreditation requires careful planning and disciplined process control, organizations that invest in preparation often discover lasting improvements in quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
If your customers are asking about Nadcap—or you’re planning to expand into aerospace manufacturing—now is the perfect time to evaluate your readiness. With the right preparation and experienced guidance, your business can confidently navigate the accreditation process and position itself for long-term success in one of the world’s most demanding industries. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you be more competitive in the aerospace market at info@thecoresolution.com or call us at 866-354-0300 Ext 2.
