AS9100 Process Turtle Diagram Template
A turtle diagram describes one process on a single page: what goes in, what comes out, and the resources, methods, people and measures in between. It is a practical way to show the process approach that ISO 9001 and AS9100 expect.
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AS9100 Process Turtle Diagram Template
Process Turtle Diagram: Receiving Inspection
Process owner: Quality Manager
Purpose: Verify incoming material and parts conform to purchase order and drawing requirements before release to stock.
Process definition
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Inputs (what comes in) | Purchase order, drawing and revision, supplier certificate of conformance, packing slip, material certificates |
| Outputs (what goes out) | Accepted lot released to stock, rejected lot tagged and NCR raised, receiving record |
| Resources and equipment (with what) | Calibrated gauges, inspection area, ERP receiving screen, inspection plans |
| Methods and procedures (how) | Receiving inspection procedure, sampling plan, counterfeit parts prevention procedure |
| Competence and people (who) | Trained receiving inspectors, inspection stamp authorization |
| Performance measures (how well) | Supplier lot acceptance rate, receiving cycle time, escapes found downstream |
Risks and opportunities
Counterfeit material entering stock, certificate mismatch, backlog at dock
Review
A turtle diagram is a common process analysis tool, not a requirement of AS9100 itself. Keep one per key process and review it when the process or its measures change.
Connect process KPIs to your ERP
Optional: we can discuss automating the process measures from your ERP data.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the template
Complete one document per process, such as contract review, purchasing, production, inspection or calibration. Fill in the purpose, inputs and outputs first, then the resources, methods, people and measures. Export to PDF or Word, attach to your process map, and walk the process owner through it before an audit. Each field already contains an example for receiving inspection that you can overwrite.
Linking to AS9100 requirements
Clause 4.4 asks the organization to determine the processes needed, their inputs and outputs, sequence, criteria, resources, responsibilities and risks. The turtle format covers these points in one view. Include the risks and opportunities under 6.1 and the performance measures tied to 9.1 so auditors can trace the logic from objective to evidence.
- Inputs and outputs from process interactions
- Resources, methods and competence
- Measures with owners
- Risks and opportunities
Making the diagram useful
Use measures that come from your ERP or quality system, such as on-time delivery, first pass yield or acceptance rate, so the diagram links to real data. Name documents by title and number. Keep the language specific; vague entries such as good communication add nothing for an auditor.
Common mistakes
Writing the diagram once and never updating it, drawing the process too broadly, and listing measures nobody tracks are the usual issues. Link each measure to a report that exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a turtle diagram required by AS9100?
No. The standard requires you to define and manage processes but does not mandate a format. Turtle diagrams are a popular, clear way to do it.
How many do I need?
One per key QMS process. Many organizations have eight to fifteen, covering sales, planning, purchasing, production, inspection, calibration, shipping and improvement.
Who should own the diagram?
The process owner. They are accountable for the process results and should review the diagram whenever the process changes.
Can I export it?
Yes. The completed template exports to PDF and Word, and the table content can be copied into Excel.
We can help pull the performance measures for each process straight from your ERP so the diagrams stay current.
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