Understanding Aerospace Site Structures

With normal certification schemes such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 etc there are only two possible site structures; single site or multi-site. A single site is generally one address but you can have multiple buildings in that address, a multisite has multiple addresses…pretty self-explanatory. One of the challenges we have with the aerospace scheme is there are actually 5 different site structures available and identifying the correct structure is vitally important. Single site and multisite are the same as general certification schemes, however we also have campus, several or complex site structures.

Organizations may think the site structure doesn't matter too much but it has a big impact when it comes to calculating time but also certificate recognition. It’s important to note that if you are on the incorrect structure your certificate could in fact be invalid. Most organizations will tick either a single site or multisite on their application without thinking through the requirements fully, I don't think I have ever seen an application for anything other than single or multi but the clients are varied.

One of the key activities of the auditors when they attend audits, stage 1 assessments in particular, is to ensure the organization is on the correct site structure. If not then certification bodies would need to re-calculate and adjust the stage 2 audit days which could add delays to your project.

I will highlight the specific requirements below but also give some explanations around each structure to help in the understanding.

Single Site

• An organization that operates at one site
• May operate under one large building or several buildings at that location.
• May have one or multiple products or product families flowing through one or multiple processes.

Eligibility:

• Stand-alone self-supporting organization, with no value stream dependencies from related companies, operating under the same quality management system.
• One address

Explanation:
You have a single address, you can have multiple units within the same address as long as they are in a row and there is no road between them. A single site can also be a number of buildings which are fenced in together and still basically have one address. This can be common for MOD sites for example where they have multiple buildings surrounded by fencing. If your units are not in a row then you are likely to be a campus structure.

Multiple Sites

• An organization having an identified central function and a network of sites at which activities are fully or partially carried out
• All sites must be doing substantially the same manufacturing and/or value-added process

Eligibility:

• All sites shall have a legal or contractual link with the central office.
• One quality management system with central control, management review, and internal audit.
• Central office can require other sites implement corrective action.
• Central collection and analysis of data, with the ability to initiate organizational change.
• Meet the requirements of IAF-MD1-Multi Site Organization; definition and eligibility requirements
• All quality management system processes at all sites have to be substantially (i.e., >80%) the same and are operated to the same methods and procedures.
• Some sites may conduct fewer processes than others.
• Sampling as per IAF-MD-1 is only permitted for AS9120 certification with defined geographical locations.
• One address per site

Explanation
The multisite structure is generally the box that someone ticks when they are not a single site and don’t fully understand the other structures. It’s important in this case to understand what IAF MD1 defines as a multisite organization:

Multisite IAF MD1 definition - An organization covered by a single management system comprising an identified central function (not necessarily the headquarters of the organization) at which certain processes/activities are planned and controlled, and a number of sites (permanent, temporary or virtual) at which such processes/activities are fully or partially carried out.

Multisite IAF MD1

Eligibility:

• The organization shall have a single management system.
• The organization shall identify its central function. The central function is part of the organization and shall not be subcontracted to an external organization.
• The central function shall have organizational authority to define, establish and maintain the single management system.
• The organization’s single management system shall be subject to a centralized management review.
• All sites shall be subject to the organization’s internal audit programme.
• The central function shall be responsible for ensuring that data is collected and analyzed from all sites and shall be able to demonstrate its authority and ability to initiate organizational change as required in regard, but not limited, to:

○    system documentation and system changes;
○    management review;
○    complaints;
○    evaluation of corrective actions;
○    internal audit planning and evaluation of the results; and
○    statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the applicable standard(s).

This can sound like how you structure your organization but it might be easier before you make this selection to understand what the other possible structures are first as that might help in your determination.

Campus

• An organization having an identified central function and a decentralised, sequential, linked product realisation process.

Eligibility:

• All sites shall have a legal or contractual link with the central office.
• One quality management system with central control, management review, and internal audit.
• Central office can require other sites implement corrective action.
• Central collection and analysis of data, with the ability to initiate organizational change.
• The outputs from one site are an input to another site to realise the final product or service; a value stream.
• Can be dissimilar processes at different sites or combination of sites that contribute to the same overall product or service.
• More than one product or service may be realised provided they are substantially (i.e., .80%) the same (e.g., a family of products) and realised through the same methods and procedures.
• One address per campus.

Explanation:
The main thing to look out for here is the value stream; the outputs from one site are the input to another site to realise the final product or service (otherwise known as a single value stream). Basically if you run out of room in your current location and need to get some additional space somewhere else to cope with the additional overflow from work then the chances are you would be a multisite.

The site will probably not have any direct customer contact, no purchasing contact, no production planning etc. The site would be doing one process which is then handed back to the other central site for completion. It could also be just a warehouse. The main difference between a multisite and a campus is the value stream flow between the sites.

Several Sites

• An organization having an identified central function and a network of sites that do not meet the criteria for a multiple site or campus organization.
• Several sites are listed on the same certificate

Eligibility:

• All sites shall have a legal or contractual link with the central office.
• One quality management system with central control, management review, and internal audit.
• Central office can require other sites implement corrective action.
• Central collection and analysis of data, with the ability to initiate organizational change.
• Processes at each of the sites are not substantially similar (i.e., <80% Similar).
• Processes may be operated to the same or different methods and procedures that are controlled through one common quality management system.
• Sites realise different products or services.
• One address per site.

Explanation:
The thing to focus on here is the processes being dis-similar to the central office. This could be maybe one site is the machine shop for component parts and the other site is a tool manufacturing facility. Some information may relay from one site to the other but if the final product is not the same and the sites do not feed into each other then it's probably a several site. The difference between a several site and a multisite is the similarity between the processes.

Complex Organization

• An organization having an identified central function and a network of locations that are any combination of multiple sites, campus (can be more than one campus), or several sites.

Eligibility:

• All sites shall have a legal or contractual link with the central office.
• One quality management system with central control, management review, and internal audit.
• Central office can require other sites implement corrective action.
• Central collection and analysis of data, with the ability to initiate organizational change.
• Overall structure contains combinations of multiple sites, campus (can be more than one campus), or several sites
• Requires IAQG OPMT approval of rationale, justification, audit duration calculations, audit programme and sampling plan (for AS9120, multisite and campus)
• One address per site and campus

Explanation:
There are not many complex organizations registered within the scheme. The complex site is generally going to be a large organization with many different sites with some feeding into other sites for one value stream and then other sites all doing different things, some have units next to each other etc.  It's basically a mixture of all the other site structures.

If you are not sure on the structure then it is best to contact the NQA Aerospace Team who will be happy to guide you through the decision making process.

For information on Aerospace training click here.