Nadcap Compliance Checklist (Free, PDF/Excel)

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16 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.

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Scope, Application and Audit Planning

Each special process in scope is mapped to a Nadcap commodity (for example heat treating, chemical processing, NDT, coatings, welding, materials testing) and its audit checklistCRITICALAt least one customer that participates in Nadcap has approved or required accreditation for the processes you runCRITICALYour eAuditNet company and audit-scope records (processes, specifications, customers, work locations) are currentThe audit window is scheduled with enough lead time and the audit logistics (auditor travel, escort, work in progress to witness) are plannedCustomer-specific and prime-specific special process specifications you are approved to are listed, with current revisionsCRITICALA pre-audit self-audit against the current commodity checklists was completed and the gaps were logged with owners and datesCRITICAL

Quality System Baseline

A documented quality system aligned to AS9100 (or an equivalent aerospace quality system) is implemented, and the audit evidence for the Nadcap quality system checklist is readyCRITICALContract review shows how customer and specification requirements are flowed to the shop floor and to the process travelerCRITICALDocument control ensures only current specification and customer revisions are used at the point of workRecords are retained for the period required by customers and specifications, and are retrievable for any job selected by the auditorInternal audits cover the special processes and the previous year's nonconformancesNonconformance and corrective action records show root cause, containment, and verified effectivenessCRITICALControl of nonconforming product, rework and reprocessing follows the customer's approval rules

Personnel, Equipment and Calibration

Operators and process personnel are trained and their qualifications are recorded against the processes they performCRITICALNDT personnel are certified to the employer-based program required by the customer or specification (for example NAS 410 or EN 4179 as flowed down)CRITICALEquipment used for special processes is identified, maintained, and covered by a preventive maintenance scheduleMeasuring and test equipment is calibrated to traceable standards and is within its due date at the time of auditCRITICALFurnaces and ovens are covered by pyrometry: system accuracy tests and temperature uniformity surveys are current to the applicable specification (for example AMS 2750 for heat treat)CRITICALProcess tanks and baths are controlled with a defined analysis schedule, adjustment limits, and records of results

Process Control and Product Evidence

A process traveler or work instruction for every job states the specification, revision, parameters, and acceptance criteriaCRITICALProcess parameters (time, temperature, concentration, current, atmosphere) are recorded for each load or batch and compared to limitsCRITICALTest panels, coupons, witness samples or reference standards are used at the frequency the specification and customer requireMaterial identity and traceability are maintained from receipt through the process to shipment, including mixed-load controlsContamination and cross-contamination controls (masking, segregation, rinse quality, water purity) are defined and verifiedJob records selected at random show complete evidence: parameters, results, operator, equipment, and release signatureCRITICALCertificates of conformance for the process match the evidence and carry the correct specification references

Commodity-Specific Readiness

Heat treat: load configuration, quench delay, quench medium control, hardness and conductivity testing, and aging records are ready for reviewChemical processing: tank control charts, etch and anodize coating weight or thickness, adhesion and salt spray or corrosion test results are ready for reviewNDT: written procedures, technique sheets, indication reference standards, and reference block checks are ready for reviewCoatings: surface preparation, coating thickness, bond and adhesion tests, and cure records are ready for reviewWelding: weld procedures, welder qualifications, and filler material controls are ready for review

Findings, Merit and Sustainment

A named owner responds to audit nonconformances within the allowed response period, with root cause and corrective action evidenceCRITICALThe response addresses the cause for all affected processes, not only the single job named in the findingAudit results are reviewed by management and tracked to closureThe path to merit status and a longer audit interval is understood and tracked (few findings, on-time responses)Changes that affect accreditation (new equipment, process, specification, location, key personnel) are reviewed against Nadcap notification rulesCRITICAL

Count the items you can prove with a record today. Items marked critical are the ones that most often lead to nonconformances at a Nadcap audit. Below 80 percent complete, plan a second self-audit before the audit date.

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Optional: we can review how your travelers, calibration and NCR records could be searched privately so audit sample requests are answered quickly.

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How to use this checklist

Run it as a self-audit one to three months before the scheduled audit. For each item, ask for the actual record, not for a statement that the record exists. Mark items complete only when you could hand the record to an auditor in under a few minutes. Assign an owner and a date to every open item, and rerun the checklist after corrective actions. Use it with the official Nadcap audit criteria for your commodity, which are the authority on each requirement.

Pick records at random from last year, not the best jobs
Include the night shift and the weekend crew in the review
Practice the job-audit walk: pick a finished job and trace it end to end
Fix systemic causes before the audit, not just individual jobs

What certification actually requires

Nadcap accreditation is process specific. A supplier applies for the commodities it needs, a trained auditor assesses the quality system and the process against standardized audit criteria, and a task group of primes and suppliers reviews the results. Customers decide which accreditation they require, so the first step is to ask your customers which processes and commodities they require. Accreditation then depends on closing audit nonconformances in time and sustaining performance through recurring audits. Merit status, earned with strong audit results, can extend the interval between audits.

Commodity differences to plan for

The quality system layer is similar across commodities, but the technical evidence differs. Heat treat auditors look hard at pyrometry, furnace classes, and load records. Chemical processing auditors look at bath analysis, tank control, and test panels. NDT auditors look at personnel certification, procedures, and the reference standards. Coating and welding auditors look at surface preparation, parameter control, and qualification records. Prepare the evidence file for each commodity separately and name an owner for each.

Common mistakes

The most frequent audit problems are not exotic: out-of-date specification revisions at the point of use, calibration or pyrometry lapses, parameters recorded but not compared to limits, and corrective actions that fix one job and leave the cause in place. A second pattern is late or shallow responses. Treat the response clock as a project with an owner. If your ERP or MES holds job records, make sure the audit sample can be pulled in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main requirements for Nadcap certification?

You need a customer that requires accreditation, a quality system that meets the aerospace baseline, process control and records that satisfy the commodity audit criteria, calibrated equipment and qualified personnel, and timely closure of audit findings. Details differ by commodity, so use the official audit criteria for yours.

Is Nadcap the same as AS9100 certification?

No. AS9100 certifies an organization's quality management system. Nadcap accredits specific special processes, such as heat treating or NDT, against detailed technical audit criteria. Many Nadcap commodities expect an AS9100-based quality system as a foundation.

How long does it take to prepare for a Nadcap audit?

It depends on your starting point. A shop with a mature AS9100 system and good records may need weeks of focused preparation. A shop closing technical gaps such as pyrometry or procedures may need several months. Start with a self-audit to size the gap.

What happens if I get nonconformances at the audit?

You respond with containment, root cause, and corrective action within the response period set by the program, then the evidence is reviewed. Unresolved or late findings delay accreditation. Responses that address the system cause, not one job, are accepted more readily.

If your job travelers, calibration dates, and nonconformance records live in an ERP, we can build a private search over them that finds audit evidence on your own servers. Ask for a review of your Nadcap evidence flow.

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Nadcap Compliance Checklist and Requirements for Nadcap Certification

0 of 36 items complete

Scope, Application and Audit Planning

Quality System Baseline

Personnel, Equipment and Calibration

Process Control and Product Evidence

Commodity-Specific Readiness

Findings, Merit and Sustainment

Nadcap evidence search on your own servers

How to use this checklist

What certification actually requires

Commodity differences to plan for

Common mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main requirements for Nadcap certification?

Is Nadcap the same as AS9100 certification?

How long does it take to prepare for a Nadcap audit?

What happens if I get nonconformances at the audit?

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