Abaco Achieves AS9100 Certification Amidst Global Pandemic

Alisa Coffey
14 May 2020
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In a time when our world has moved primarily to remote working and social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be one of the biggest challenges workforces are facing today. It may seem improbable during this time we would be able to obtain certification for our quality management system in what would traditionally be an onsite certification process. However, our commitment to the quality and safety of our products is top of mind during an otherwise uncertain time.

The AS9100 quality management system ensures quality and safety standards are met across the board for the aviation, space, and defense industries. AS9100 certification was first released by the International Aerospace Quality group (IAQG) and since 2013 Abaco has continued its commitment to excellence by meeting or exceeding the standards every year since achieving our first certification.

Our desire to achieve this certification both begins and ends with our customers. As our President and CEO, Rich Sorelle, said, "At Abaco Systems, Inc. we are passionate about providing the best in class quality products and services to our customers. Quality means listening to our customers, understanding their definition of quality, and delighting them through outstanding products, performance and support."

We are especially pleased with TÜV SÜD America, our certifying agency, and their commitment to continuing certifications in the face of great challenges. Historically, audits have been performed onsite, however given the constraints COVID-19 has placed on the industry, our collective teams were able to successfully adapt by utilizing teleconferencing tools to complete this certification over a three-day span. This included starting off each day with a virtual kickoff, then a series of breakouts with an Abaco leader managing a virtual meeting with the auditor, and concluding with a virtual closing meeting. We are grateful to all those who worked together to make this process successful. At the conclusion of this extensive process, Abaco continued its strong tradition of receiving full recognition to operate as an AS9100 certified company. 
 

We are proud to recognize Abaco’s AS9100 Certification. This achievement demonstrates Abaco’s unwavering commitment to their employees, customers and quality.  

~ Mark Alpert, Vice President Business Assurance at TÜV SÜD America

Mark Alpert, Vice President Business Assurance at TÜV SÜD America, said, “We are proud to recognize Abaco’s AS9100 Certification. This achievement demonstrates Abaco’s unwavering commitment to their employees, customers and quality. TÜV SÜD America shares these values, and moved quickly to ensure its audit services could be delivered remotely in a way that put the safety of both organizations first, while not sacrificing quality or service.” This year Abaco expanded the Huntsville site certificate to a campus certificate which includes both the North and South Huntsville facilities.

Even in times of great uncertainty around us, we can continue to adapt to changing environments while taking pride in our accomplishments, specifically in the strength and innovation of our team. Alpert continued, “Quality will always be a differentiator in the marketplace, even during these challenging times dominated by COVID-19.  Together Abaco and TÜV SÜD America exhibited the characteristics of true market leaders.”

Alisa Coffey

Alisa is Head of Marketing at Abaco, having joined us at the beginning of 2020 from Siemens, where she was responsible for aerospace, defense and federal marketing.  She graduated magna cum laude from Louisiana State University and Mechanical College.

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