Implementing quality assurance systems in an aeronautical engineering environment
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to implement quality assurance systems in an aeronautical engineering environment, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to establish precise criteria to enable you to assess the quality of engineering products or processes, such as component manufacturing, assembly activities, materials processing and finishing, installation activities, repair and modifications, maintenance, commissioning and de- commissioning. You will also be expected to decide and communicate the quality assurance recommendations to all relevant people.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the quality assurance of engineering products or processes, and to report any problems that you cannot personally resolve, or are that outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with minimal supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will enable you to have an informed approach to the implementation of quality assurance systems. You will understand your organisation's methods of operation and quality assurance systems, in sufficient detail to enable you to make informed decisions and to carry out the implementation to the required standard.
You will be aware of any health, safety and environmental requirements applicable to the quality assurance activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- establish clear and precise criteria for assuring the quality of engineering products or processes
- identify suitable quality assurance methods and procedures
- ensure that the specified quality assurance methods and procedures are implemented correctly
- obtain accurate information from valid sources on the engineering product or process being quality assured
- assess accurately and realistically the quality of the engineering products or processes
- specify clearly the quality of engineering products or processes
- ensure that information on quality is provided to the appropriate people
- recommend improvements to quality to the appropriate people
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to access information on health and safety regulations and guidelines relating to the engineering activities to be quality assured
- the specific regulations and guidelines that are relevant to the activities being quality assured
- the requirements and importance of understanding and applying human factors as defined by the regulatory requirements and the potential impact if these are not adhered to
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when carrying out the quality assurance and associated activities
the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn in the specific work area that the quality assurance activities are taking place
where the required personal protective equipment can be obtained
- the implications of not taking account of legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines when carrying out the quality assurance activities
- the organisational procedures for determining when quality assurance activities should occur, and how they should be undertaken
- the processes and specifications of the activity being quality assured
- communicate efficiently details of engineering product status to others
- provide comprehensive written reports of the status of engineering product
- how to obtain the quality criteria that could be used for different types of engineering products or processes
- the current quality assurance methods that are in use
- the methods for obtaining information on the engineering products or processes that are to be quality assured
- the relevant sources of information on engineering products or processes
- the people who should be involved in the quality assurance process
- the type of impact that quality assurance methods have on the organisation
- the people who require information on quality assurance, and the procedures for informing them
- the types of recommendation that could emerge from the quality assurance process
- how to present the quality recommendations and the formats that are used
- how to ensure that recommendations are followed up
- the importance of making sure that all information used is accurate
- the importance of maintaining quality assurance records
- the types of information to be recorded and the amount of detail that is required
- where quality assurance records are kept and the procedure for obtaining them
- the importance of ensuring that any records that you use are correctly updated and returned to the appropriate location
- the types of problem that could occur with the quality assurance process, and the organisational methods and procedures for resolving them
- the importance of solving problems quickly
- the organisational reporting processes and lines of communication
- the extent of your own authority and to whom you should report in the event of problems that you cannot resolve
- the sources of technical expertise if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the quality assurance activities:
- obtain the required quality control specifications and related documents required for the process
- obtain approval to carry out the quality assurance activities
- ensure that all appropriate personnel are fully informed of your intended activities
- use appropriate personal protective equipment for the area in which you are carrying out the quality assurance activities
- apply safe working practices and procedures at all times
Carry out all of the following in preparation for the quality assurance activity:
- identify the product or process requiring quality assurance
- establish the clear criteria of the quality assurance process
- collect information from appropriate sources
- identify suitable quality assurance methods, techniques and procedures
- demonstrate and recommend the quality assurance process to the appropriate people
Obtain suitable information about the product or process requiring quality assurance, from two of the following:
- quality control staff
- engineering drawings
- regulations and guidelines
- manufacturers' manuals/specifications
- product specifications
- international/national standards
Identify suitable methods and procedures for quality assurance, to include two of the following:
- production process inspection
- product performance attributes
- contractor guidelines
- maintenance procedures
- electrical checks
- incoming inspection
- dimensional checks
- material checks
- customer contracts
- other specific checks
Implement quality assurance procedures for two of the following aeronautical engineering activities:
- manufacturing activities (such as machining, detail fitting, fabrication of components, moulding)
- material processing activities (such as heat treatment, annealing)
- finishing activities (such as stripping finishes, painting, plating, anodising)
- assembly activities (such as mechanical, structural, fluid power, electrical/electronic)
- installation activities (such as mechanical equipment installation, electrical/avionic installation)
- modification and repair activities
- operational activities (such as movement of materials, quality systems and audit, scheduled safety audits and risk assessments)
- equipment capability/performance measurement
- commissioning/decommissioning
- lifting and moving large components/assemblies (including transportation/delivery)
- materials handling (such as movement of materials, materials storage, removal of waste)
- plant and equipment (such as plant layout, equipment changeover, equipment replacement)
- research and development
- maintenance activities
- testing and trialling
- capability studies
Ensure that the quality assurance recommendations comply with relevant regulations, standards and guidelines from two of the following;:
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
- Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
- Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
- BS, ISO or BSEN standards and procedures
- company policy and procedures
- customer policy and procedures
- aircraft manufacturer's requirements
Demonstrate and recommend quality assurance processes to the relevant people, using the following method:
- verbal report
plus one more method from the following:
2. electronic mail
3. computer-based presentation
4. written or typed report
5. specific company form
6. other appropriate media
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment