Quick Answer
Quick Answer
TestCert gives aerospace suppliers full material genealogy from raw mill certificate to finished part, with AS9100D-aligned traceability records, first article inspection documentation, and supplier certificate validation built in. Every heat number and lot is traceable across cuts, operations, and sub-assemblies.
Aerospace component manufacturers operate under a simple but unforgiving rule: if you can't prove where the material came from, the part doesn't fly. AS9100D clause 8.5.2 requires identification and traceability throughout production. Customer-specific requirements (Boeing D1-9000, Airbus AP2197, Nadcap) add further layers. And an FAA or EASA audit can request full material traceability for any serialized part at any time.
The gap between that requirement and the reality of how most small and mid-size aerospace suppliers manage material documentation is significant. Certificates live in email attachments. Heat numbers are transcribed manually to traveler forms. Split-lot traceability — tracking what happened to the other half of a bar after it was cut — is handled with handwritten notes or not at all.
TestCert closes that gap with purpose-built material genealogy tracking, structured inbound certificate storage, and a traceability chain that follows every piece of material from the incoming mill cert to the final inspection record.
The Aerospace Traceability Challenge
AS9100D Clause 8.5.2 Compliance
AS9100D requires that organizations control the unique identification of outputs and maintain records of traceability throughout production and delivery. TestCert fulfills this by:
- Assigning a unique internal traceability ID to each certified material lot at intake
- Linking every production traveler and operation record to the source material certificate
- Recording split operations (when one heat/lot is divided into multiple work pieces)
- Maintaining the complete genealogy chain from incoming material to outgoing part
First Article Inspection Support
First article inspection (FAI) per AS9102 requires documenting the material properties of the actual production material used in the first article. TestCert links the FAI record to the specific certificate records for each material used, ensuring the FAI package contains traceable, structured material data rather than photocopied PDFs.
Supplier Certificate Validation
Aerospace supply chains rely on raw material suppliers, processors (heat treaters, platers, coaters), and sub-tier suppliers — each issuing certificates that need to be validated before material is used. TestCert validates supplier certificates against the applicable AMS, ASTM, or customer specification automatically. Non-conforming certificates are quarantined and flagged for disposition before the material enters production.
Customer-Specific Requirements
Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and other major primes each publish supplementary material requirements beyond the base AMS or ASTM standard. TestCert stores these as customer overlay rules: tighter chemistry limits, additional testing requirements, or restricted traceability codes — all applied automatically when processing material designated for that customer's work orders.
Key Features for Aerospace Suppliers
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Material genealogy tracking | Full chain from mill cert to finished part, including splits |
| AMS / ASTM / EN standards library | Automatic certificate validation against applicable spec |
| Split-lot traceability | Track both halves of a cut bar or plate to their respective parts |
| First article inspection links | FAI package assembled from structured certificate records |
| Customer specification overlays | Boeing/Airbus/prime SRs applied per customer without code changes |
| Supplier qualification integration | Certificates flagged for non-conformance before material receipt |
| Audit-ready export | Complete material dossier exportable for customer or AS9100 audit |
Standards Coverage for Aerospace
TestCert's aerospace-relevant standards library includes:
- AMS: 2750, 4928, 5596, 5643, 5662, 6931, and 100+ additional AMS specs
- ASTM: A286, B265, B209, and aerospace-relevant structural and fastener alloys
- NADCAP: Process documentation requirements for heat treat, chemical processing, and NDT
- AS9102: First article inspection records linkage
- Boeing D1-9000: Supplementary quality requirements (overlay configuration)
- Airbus AP2197: Supplier quality requirements (overlay configuration)
How Traceability Works in Practice
A typical aerospace material flow in TestCert:
- Incoming mill certificate — parsed into structured fields, validated against AMS spec, linked to PO line
- Receiving inspection — dimensional and visual inspection record linked to the cert
- Material cutting — split operation recorded; both resulting pieces carry the parent heat number
- In-process operations — traveler records (machining, heat treat, coating) linked to the material cert
- Final inspection — inspection results linked to material cert and traveler
- Shipment — outbound cert package generated with full material genealogy for the customer
At any point, a quality engineer can query a part serial number and see the complete material chain in a single view.
Does TestCert support AS9100D traceability requirements?
Yes. TestCert is designed to support AS9100D clause 8.5.2 identification and traceability requirements. Unique material IDs, genealogy records through production operations, and split-lot tracking are all core platform features.
How does TestCert handle material that is split during production?
When a material lot is cut or split, TestCert records the split operation with the resulting quantities and assigns traceability references to each resulting piece. Both pieces carry the parent heat number and certificate reference. This satisfies the requirement to trace every part back to its specific certified material lot.
Can TestCert manage Nadcap process certifications alongside material certs?
Yes. Process certifications (heat treat, chemical processing, NDT) from Nadcap-accredited processors are stored as linked records in TestCert. They are associated with the specific lot and operation they apply to, so the complete part dossier includes both material and process certifications.
How do customer-specific requirements like Boeing D1-9000 get applied?
Customer overlay rules are configured in TestCert per customer. The overlay defines additional chemistry limits, restricted traceability codes, or required supplementary tests beyond the base AMS/ASTM spec. When an inbound certificate is linked to a work order for that customer, the overlay rules are applied automatically during validation.
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