Findings
The Coalition strongly supports both the FAA’s Voluntary Industry Distributor Accreditation Program (VIDAP) and EASA’s Quality Management System (QMS) Standards, and believes that the rigorous requirements, audits, and training standards that each of these accreditation programs require reduce the risk of fraud in the marketplace and contribute to the overall improvement of aviation safety. In large part, the Coalition’s recommendations in this area serve to support and expand the use of these accreditation programs, focusing on collectively sharing information and prioritizing companies willing to meet appropriate standards. There are, however, several specific improvements the Coalition believes can improve the vendor accreditation ecosystem and help reduce risk in the aviation supply chain, including:
- Promoting greater industry utilization of accredited parts distributors;
- The establishment of a feedback loop between parts installers and accreditors;
- The creation of an industry oversight body of accreditation organizations; and
- The creation of a database of accredited vendors in order to verify identities and their use of quality management standards.
Short Term Actions
Recommendation #1
Promote Industry Use of Parts Distributors that Meet FAA and EASA Standards
The Coalition recommends that air carriers, MROs, propulsion OEMs, and other industry participants at all levels of the aerospace supply chain seek to primarily utilize distributors accredited under FAA AC00-56B or ED2019/009/R when sourcing parts for placement on an aircraft. Utilizing accredited distributors will help ensure that vendors supplying the aviation industry are held to the highest standard when providing parts critical to the safety of our skies.
Recommendation #2
Establish Feedback Loop Between Parts Installers and Accreditors
The Coalition recommends that accreditation organizations establish a feedback mechanism to enable the exchange of non-prejudicial supplier information between aerospace parts installers and the accreditation organizations. Such a mechanism would allow parts purchasers to provide non-prejudicial feedback on compliance with the relevant quality process standards and would aid industry in making informed supplier approval decisions. It would also inform future audit activities by the accreditation organizations.
Medium Term Action
Recommendation #3
Establish Industry Oversight Body of Accreditation Organizations
The Coalition recommends that the aviation industry work to establish an industry-driven oversight body to conduct regular and appropriate oversight, observation, and audits of each accreditation organization to ensure that accreditation and continuous monitoring audit processes meet the necessary standards.
Long Term Action
Recommendation #4
Establish Database of Accredited Vendors to Verify Identities and Quality Standards
The Coalition recommends the establishment of an electronic universally accessible database of accredited vendors, through which prospective parts purchasers can verify and review accreditation certifications, recent audits, and the relevant contact information of key supplier personnel. The compilation of this data can form the basis for “know-your-customer” (KYC) requirements—similar to the standard used in the financial services industry to verify customers and discern risk and financial profiles.