Standards Comparison

    ISO 22301

    Voluntary
    2019

    International standard for business continuity management systems

    VS

    AS9110C

    Mandatory
    2016

    Aerospace QMS standard for aviation maintenance organizations.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 22301 provides BCMS resilience for all organizations against disruptions, while AS9110C delivers aerospace-specific QMS for MROs ensuring airworthiness and safety. Companies adopt ISO 22301 for continuity, AS9110C for regulatory compliance and market access.

    Business Continuity

    ISO 22301

    ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Systems Requirements

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • PDCA cycle drives continual BCMS improvement
    • Business Impact Analysis identifies critical functions
    • Annex SL enables ISO 27001 integration
    • Leadership commitment mandates policy and roles
    • Operational testing verifies recovery strategies
    Quality Management

    AS9110C

    AS9110C:2016 Quality Management Systems for Aviation Maintenance

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Risk-based thinking in planning and operations
    • Configuration management and traceability controls
    • Counterfeit and suspect parts prevention
    • Human factors in root cause analysis
    • Maintenance release and airworthiness requirements

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 22301 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 22301:2019 is an international certification standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). It specifies requirements to protect against, reduce likelihood of, respond to, and recover from disruptions, ensuring continuity of critical products and services. Built on a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach with Annex SL high-level structure.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning (BIA/RA), support, operations (testing), evaluation, improvement.
    • No fixed controls; tailored via Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Assessment (RA).
    • Core principles: leadership commitment, documented information, continual improvement.
    • Certification via accredited bodies: two-stage audits, 3-year validity with surveillance.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Enhances resilience, reduces downtime/costs, boosts stakeholder trust, lowers insurance premiums. Supports regulatory compliance (e.g., NIS Directive), competitive edges in fintech/healthcare. Mitigates cyber, natural disasters, supply chain risks.

    Implementation Overview

    Gap analysis, BIA/RA, policy development, training, testing, audits. Platforms accelerate to 6 months. Applicable to all sizes/sectors globally; digital tools aid integration with ISO 27001.

    AS9110C Details

    What It Is

    AS9110C (AS9110:2016 Rev C) is an international quality management system (QMS) certification standard developed by IAQG for aviation maintenance organizations (MROs), repair stations, and overhaul providers. It builds on ISO 9001:2015's Annex SL structure, incorporating risk-based thinking, PDCA cycles, and aviation-specific requirements for continuing airworthiness, safety, and traceability.

    Key Components

    • 10 clauses covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
    • Core additions: configuration management, counterfeit parts prevention, human factors, product safety, external provider controls, and maintenance release.
    • Emphasizes documented information, competence, and auditable evidence.
    • Certification via accredited bodies with Stage 1/2 audits and OASIS listing.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Meets customer/OEM contracts and regulatory alignments (FAA/EASA Part 145).
    • Mitigates safety risks, ensures traceability, improves on-time delivery.
    • Drives market access, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and resilience.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, internal audits, certification (6-12 months typical).
    • Targets MROs globally; requires leadership commitment, risk registers, and operational maturity.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 22301
    Business continuity management systems
    AS9110C
    Aerospace maintenance quality management

    Industry

    ISO 22301
    All sectors worldwide
    AS9110C
    Aerospace MRO organizations

    Nature

    ISO 22301
    Voluntary certification standard
    AS9110C
    Voluntary certification standard

    Testing

    ISO 22301
    BIA, exercises, audits
    AS9110C
    Internal audits, process validation

    Penalties

    ISO 22301
    Loss of certification
    AS9110C
    Loss of certification

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 22301 and AS9110C

    ISO 22301 FAQ

    AS9110C FAQ

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