When you send an RFQ for precision machined components to an aerospace or defense program, the certification behind the shop matters as much as the price. AS9100D is the standard that separates suppliers who can support flight-critical and mission-critical work from those who cannot. Here is what it means when a machining partner like MTI holds it.
What is AS9100D?
AS9100D is the quality management standard for the aviation, space, and defense industries. It builds on ISO 9001:2015 and adds requirements specific to aerospace: configuration management, risk management, counterfeit part prevention, first article inspection, and product safety. A shop certified to AS9100D has been audited by an accredited registrar and proven that its processes meet these requirements. MTI holds both AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Why does AS9100D matter for your RFQ?
If you are sourcing parts for an aerospace or defense application, your prime contractor or your own quality system almost certainly requires an AS9100 certified supply chain. Awarding work to a non-certified shop can disqualify the part downstream. Choosing an AS9100D supplier up front removes that risk and shortens your supplier approval process.
Beyond the checkbox, certification signals operational discipline. It means the shop controls its processes, documents its inspections, traces its materials, and manages nonconformances rather than hiding them.
How does traceability work at an AS9100D shop?
Full material and process traceability is one of the core requirements. At MTI, every job runs through our ProShop ERP system, which ties each part back to its material certifications, inspection records, operator, and machine. If a customer needs to trace a lot of parts back to the raw bar stock and the exact inspection data, we can produce that record. For regulated industries, that traceability is not optional, it is the difference between a compliant part and a rejected one.
What quality documentation can an AS9100D shop provide?
Certified shops are equipped to deliver the documentation aerospace and defense buyers require, including first article inspection reports to AS9102, certificates of conformance, material certifications, and inspection data tied to your drawing requirements. When you write your RFQ, specifying these deliverables up front lets a shop like MTI quote accurately and build them into the job from the start.
What to look for when sourcing precision machined parts
When you evaluate a machining partner for regulated work, confirm the certification is current and covers your scope, ask how they handle traceability and record retention, and verify they have delivered similar parts to similar tolerances. A shop that answers those questions clearly is a shop that will support your program.
MTI is an AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified precision machining and fabrication shop. If you have an aerospace, defense, or medical machining RFQ, we are equipped to quote it, trace it, and document it to your requirements.