Piper M700 Fury (photo © Piper)
Famed general aviation aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft has achieved AS9100 certification after an implementation program by Oxebridge Quality Resources International. The certificate was awarded by DEKRA North America.
Piper produces three lines of airplanes: business class, personal class, and trainers. The famous models under production now include Archer, M700, and Seminole. The company began in 1927 as Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company. In 1929, oil tycoon William T. Piper invested in the company, and it was renamed in his honor in 1937.
Unlike many aerospace companies that pursue AS9100 to meet contractual obligations, Piper had no external pressure to pursue the certification. Instead, Piper’s senior management elected to implement AS9100 to improve quality, formalize internal QMS processes and drive continual improvement.
The AS9100 certification includes all aircraft design and manufacturing operations at its sole Vero Beach FL plant. The scope of the QMS and certification includes Piper Industrial Manufacturing Company (PIMCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary that sells additive manufacturing and CNC machining services to parties outside of Piper on a contract basis.
Oxebridge has implemented AS9100 for a number of famed companies, including SpaceX, GKN Aerospace, Hensoldt USA, and PAC Seating Systems. Other aerospace Oxebridge clients include X-Bow Launch Systems, Nytron Aerospace, ShapeFidelity, and Invena Corporation. Oxebridge’s ISO 9001 clients include Starlink, Lumen (CenturyLink), Iron EagleX, and NVision Solutions.
Founded in January 2000, Oxebridge has over 350 clients and will soon be celebrating its 25th anniversary.
