Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance

Quality Management Philosophy – Six Sigma
Product quality is of vital importance to Innovative Solutions and Support and its customers. We have taken steps to enhance the overall quality of our products. We utilize the Six Sigma program, which is a process evaluation program based on the premise that efficient companies can reduce to a very low level the number of defects and inefficient processes. Under this program, we are continuously seeking to improve our operational efficiencies, including our design and manufacturing processes and thus the general quality of our products. In particular, our Six Sigma program allows us to analyze our development processes and reduce the risks inherent in shortening our development cycle times.

ISO 9001/AS9100

IS&S is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Revision D certified, by the independent registrar DEKRA Certification, Inc., for both design and manufacturing. Our goal is to ensure that we can consistently deliver our products and related services in a manner that meets or exceeds customer quality requirements. As an ISO 9001/AS9100 certified manufacturer, we can represent to our customers that we maintain high quality industry standards in the education of our employees and the design and manufacture of our products. Our products undergo extensive quality control testing prior to being delivered to customers. As part of our quality assurance procedures, we maintain detailed records of test results and our quality control processes.

Variability Reduction Efforts

Innovative Solutions and Support is well versed in the philosophy that variation causes defects. Before year 2001, the majority of our SMT Printed Wiring Assemblies were outsourced. As part of our growth and knowledge in trying to control and reduce variability, IS&S made significant capital expenditures to bring surface mount technology (SMT) capabilities in-house. Rather than be at the mercy of our subassembly subcontractors, this investment resulted in a significant reduction of solder joint defects along with a significant cycle time reduction. The overall quality and reliability of our products have been improved by bringing this technology in-house.

Variation can be attributed to a lack of understanding the process. Therefore, IS&S takes employee training seriously. We have 100% participation in Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) and Hazardous Communication (HAZCOM) training. IS&S currently has manufacturing and inspection personnel trained to the requirements of IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies), and J-STD-001 (Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies). We have internal ISO 9001/AS9101 auditors. Departmental training is on going to ensure awareness to ISO work instructions.

FAA and Customer Relationships

The Boeing Company has approved our Quality Management System to BQMS D6-82479, Appendix A and Addendum 2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has surveyed IS&S’ production quality system and has issued approval to 14 CFR FAA Part 21, Subpart 0 for Technical Standard Order (TSO) Authorizations. IS&S is also a FAA Production Approval Holder (PAH) under facility/project number PQ0929NE. Our latest Aircraft Certification Systems Evaluation Program (ACSEP) audit was held on 7-11 December 2009. The FAA has issued more than 100 Technical Standard Orders (TSO), 12 Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and 11 Parts Manufacturing Approvals. In addition, IS&S holds a 14 CFR FAA Part 145 Repair Station Air Agency Certificate with a Limited Accessory and Instrument Rating, Air Agency Certificate Number I72R916X and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part-145 Approval, Reference EASA.145.6021.

Brian J. Urbanski
Vice President, Quality Assurance
+1 (610) 646-9800 ext. 560
burbanski@innovative-ss.com