NADCAP - Overview

The Nadcap program is administered by the Performance Review Institute (PRI). Nadcap was established in 1990 by SAE International. Nadcap's membership consists of "prime contractors" who coordinate with aerospace accredited suppliers to develop industry-wide audit criteria for special processes and products. Through PRI, Nadcap provides independent certification of manufacturing processes for the industry. PRI has its headquarters in Warrendale, Pennsylvania with branch offices for Nadcap located in London, Beijing, and Nagoya. PRI schedules an audit and assigns an industry approved auditor who will conduct the audit using an industry agreed checklist. At the end of the audit, any non-conformity issues will be raised through a non-conformance report. PRI will administer and close out the non-conformance reports with the Supplier. Upon completion PRI will present the audit pack to a 'special process Task Group’ made up of members from industry who will review it and vote on its acceptability for approval.

Nadcap - an industry-managed approach to conformity assessment

Nadcap is an industry-managed approach to conformity assessment that brings together technical experts from both Industry and Government to establish requirements for accreditation, accredit Suppliers and define operational program requirements. This results in a standardized approach to quality assurance and a reduction in redundant auditing throughout the aerospace industry because Prime contractors, Suppliers and Government representatives have joined forces to develop a program that: 

• Establishes stringent industry consensus standards that satisfy the requirements of all participants;
• Replaces routine auditing of Suppliers with one approved through a consensus decision-making process of members from the user community;
• Conducts more in-depth, technically superior critical process audits;
• Improves Supplier quality throughout industry through stringent requirements;
• Provides more frequent audits for Primes, fewer audits for Suppliers, and, so on.

The Nadcap Management Council (NMC) is made up of Senior Quality Leaders and Managers from aerospace prime contractors (Subscribers) and Suppliers.

The role of the NMC members is to speak for the needs of the global aerospace industry and their organizations in promoting teamwork, facilitating consensus, focusing on quality and ensuring the Nadcap program is robust and representative, from a management perspective.

• Establishes and implements policies and procedures;
• Made up of senior quality leaders from industry;
• Oversees the operation of Nadcap;
• Coordinates and develops the Task Groups;
• Identifies, develops and deploys improvements;