The aerospace industry is renowned for its unwavering commitment to precision, safety, and quality. In a step towards fostering greater consistency and efficiency in certification processes, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG®) have come together in a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This MoU signals an advancement for the industry, with far-reaching implications that promise to elevate quality management standards while facilitating easier access to global markets.

At the heart of this partnership lies the IAQG Certification Scheme, designed to streamline certification processes and minimize the complexities and costs associated with supplier audits. This framework offers a roadmap for the impartial, accredited third-party certification of aviation, space, and defense products. By having suppliers certified under this scheme, aerospace companies can rest assured that the products and services they receive meet the requirements of the industry’s stringent standards.

Emanuele Riva, Chair of IAF, aptly described the essence of the MoU, which finalizes the endorsement of the IAQG Certification Scheme as a sub-scope of the IAF MLA (Multilateral Recognition Arrangement), and its impact on the industry: “The IAF MLA enables mutual recognition of accredited certification and validation/verification statements between IAF MLA signatories, and thereby the acceptance of accredited conformity assessment results in many markets based on one accreditation.”

With the IAQG Certification Scheme now embraced under the IAF MLA umbrella, organizations holding accredited certification to this scheme are poised to reap the benefits of increased market access and reduced audit costs, all while upholding the uncompromising benchmarks of quality management that underpin the aerospace and aviation sectors.

In practical terms, this is an agreement to work collaboratively ensuring harmonization in the accreditation practices performed by the IAF members for the IAQG Certification Scheme. While both entities have been working together for years, this MoU formalizes the amount of confidence in standardization within the certification scheme processes. Additionally, having both organizations aligned in the continual enhancement of the scheme guarantees that accredited certification bodies (CBs) operating within the IAQG Certification Scheme maintain the highest levels of competence.

Andy Maher, President of IAQG, underscored the implications of this MoU, emphasizing its role in helping companies with accredited certification expand their horizons: “Signature of this MoU will enable companies holding accredited certification to expand their reach, explore new business opportunities, and compete effectively in global markets, in line with IAF’s vision of ‘accredited once, accepted everywhere’.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of what this partnership represents – a leap forward in fostering global recognition of accredited certification, ultimately boosting competitiveness and driving higher performance standards across the aerospace industry.

The MoU came into effect on 27 June 2023. As the aerospace industry continues to evolve and innovate, this agreement between IAF and IAQG serves as an opportunity to guide the industry toward greater harmonization, reduce barriers to market entry, and enhance quality assurance. It is a moment to celebrate the unwavering dedication of both organizations to shaping a future where exceptional quality is not just a goal, but an attainable standard that knows no borders.