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Aerospace Special Process Specification Reference (AMS, ASTM, MIL)

A special process is one where the result cannot be fully verified by later inspection, so the process itself must be controlled and approved. This lookup lists the specifications that most often appear on aerospace drawings and purchase orders.

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Process	Common specification	What it covers	Typical approval to check
Pyrometry (all heat treat)	AMS 2750	Furnace classes, instrumentation, system accuracy and temperature uniformity surveys	Customer or Nadcap heat treating
Heat treatment of steel parts	AMS 2759	General requirements for heat treatment of steel parts	Customer or Nadcap heat treating
Heat treatment of aluminum alloys	AMS 2770	Heat treatment of wrought aluminum alloy parts	Customer or Nadcap heat treating
Heat treatment of titanium	AMS H 81200	Heat treatment of titanium and titanium alloys	Customer or Nadcap heat treating
Anodize, chromic acid	MIL-A-8625 Type I	Anodic coatings for aluminum and aluminum alloys	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Anodize, sulfuric acid	MIL-A-8625 Type II	Anodic coatings for aluminum and aluminum alloys	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Hard anodize	MIL-A-8625 Type III	Hard anodic coatings	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Chemical conversion coating	MIL-DTL-5541	Chemical conversion coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Passivation of stainless steel	AMS 2700	Passivation of corrosion resistant steels	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Passivation, alternative standard	ASTM A967	Chemical passivation treatments for stainless steel parts	Customer requirement
Cadmium plating	AMS 2400	Cadmium plating	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Nickel plating	AMS 2403	Nickel plating, general purpose	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Chrome plating	AMS 2460	Chromium plating	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Shot peening	AMS 2430	Shot peening, automatic	Customer or Nadcap nonconventional machining and surface enhancement
Peening intensity verification	SAE J443	Almen strip procedure for peening intensity	Customer requirement
Fluorescent penetrant inspection	AMS 2644	Inspection material, penetrant	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Penetrant testing practice	ASTM E1417	Standard practice for liquid penetrant testing	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Magnetic particle inspection	ASTM E1444	Standard practice for magnetic particle testing	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Magnetic particle inspection of parts	AMS 2641	Vehicle, magnetic particle inspection	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Radiographic testing	ASTM E1742	Standard practice for radiographic examination	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Ultrasonic testing	ASTM E2375	Standard practice for ultrasonic testing of wrought products	Customer or Nadcap NDT
Eddy current testing	ASTM E426	Electromagnetic testing of tubular products	Customer or Nadcap NDT
NDT personnel qualification	NAS 410	Certification and qualification of NDT personnel	Customer requirement
NDT personnel, recommended practice	ASNT SNT-TC-1A	Personnel qualification and certification in NDT	Employer written practice
Fusion welding of aerospace structures	AWS D17.1	Specification for fusion welding for aerospace applications	Customer or Nadcap welding
Brazing	AWS C3.6	Specification for furnace brazing	Customer or Nadcap welding
Sealing of fasteners and structures	AMS-S-8802	Sealing compound, polysulfide rubber	Customer or Nadcap sealants
Wet paint, primer and topcoat	MIL-PRF-23377	Primer coatings, epoxy, high solids	Customer requirement
Conversion coating of titanium	AMS 2486	Conversion coating of titanium alloys	Customer or Nadcap chemical processing
Electrical conductivity of aluminum	ASTM E1004	Electromagnetic eddy current conductivity measurement	Customer requirement
Hardness testing, Rockwell	ASTM E18	Rockwell hardness of metallic materials	Lab accreditation to ISO 17025
Mechanical testing, tension	ASTM E8	Tension testing of metallic materials	Lab accreditation to ISO 17025

Specifications and revision letters change. Always confirm the exact specification, class, type and revision on the drawing or purchase order, and check the current customer approved process source list.

Check special process approvals in your ERP

Optional: we can review how your ERP holds supplier approvals and flag gaps.

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How to use the table

Search by process name, specification number or keyword. Each row shows the usual specification, what it covers and which approval to verify before you release a purchase order. Export the filtered rows to Excel to seed a special process approved supplier list or to check that a drawing note maps to the correct specification.

Confirm the revision letter on the drawing, not just the number
Check class, type and grade callouts
Verify the supplier approval scope, not only the certificate

Why special processes need controls

AS9100D clause 8.5.1.2 requires validation and control of special processes, including defined criteria, approved equipment and personnel, and monitored parameters. Customers add flowdowns that name their own approved process sources. A supplier holding Nadcap accreditation for heat treating is not automatically approved for chemical processing, so scope matters.

Using this in your ERP

Most ERPs can carry the process specification on the operation or routing and the approved supplier status on the vendor record. Make sure the purchase order text includes the specification and revision, and receiving requires the process certificate. A mismatch between drawing note and PO text is a frequent audit finding.

Common mistakes

Relying on a withdrawn specification, sending parts to a supplier approved for a different process scope, and missing a customer specific callout are the usual problems. The table is an index; the specification and the customer flowdown are the authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a special process?

A process whose output cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection or test, so deficiencies appear only after use. Heat treating, plating, anodizing, welding, and many NDT methods are the usual examples.

Is Nadcap accreditation mandatory?

Not by AS9100 itself. Many primes and customers require Nadcap or their own approval for specific processes, so it depends on the purchase order and customer flowdown.

Which specification applies to my part?

The one called out on the drawing or purchase order, at the stated revision. This table shows common choices only.

Does this list cover everything?

No. It lists frequently used specifications. Customer proprietary specifications and newer processes are not included.

We can help turn special process rules into checks inside your ERP, such as blocking a PO to a supplier without a valid scope. Ask if that is useful.

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