Standards Comparison

    ISO 45001

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for occupational health and safety management

    VS

    AS9120B

    Mandatory
    2016

    Aerospace QMS standard for parts distributors.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 45001 provides OH&S management for all industries to prevent injuries, while AS9120B ensures quality in aerospace distribution via traceability and counterfeit controls. Organizations adopt ISO 45001 for safety compliance and AS9120B for supply chain approval.

    Occupational Health & Safety

    ISO 45001

    ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

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

    Key Features

    • Mandates leadership accountability and worker participation
    • Aligns with Annex SL for IMS integration
    • Applies hierarchy of controls prioritizing elimination
    • Addresses risks and opportunities proactively
    • Follows PDCA cycle in Clauses 4-10
    Quality Management

    AS9120B

    AS9120B: Quality Management Systems - Distributors

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

    Key Features

    • Robust traceability for split lots and chain-of-custody
    • Counterfeit and suspected unapproved parts prevention
    • Enhanced external provider evaluation and controls
    • Configuration management for distribution processes
    • Risk-based planning addressing distribution hazards

    Detailed Analysis

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

    ISO 45001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 45001:2018 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). It provides a framework to prevent work-related injuries and ill health, improve OH&S performance, using a risk-based approach aligned with Annex SL (High-Level Structure) for integration with other ISO standards like ISO 9001 and 14001.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
    • Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, worker participation, and PDCA cycle.
    • No fixed controls; scalable requirements based on organization context.
    • Optional third-party certification via audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Reduces incidents, legal risks, and costs; enhances resilience and reputation.
    • Meets stakeholder expectations; supports supply-chain compliance.
    • Drives continual improvement and competitive advantages like lower insurance premiums.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased approach: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls, audits, reviews.
    • Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical timeline.
    • Focuses on leadership commitment and worker engagement.

    AS9120B Details

    What It Is

    AS9120B is the IAQG quality management system standard for aerospace distributors, built on ISO 9001:2015's high-level structure. It establishes requirements for organizations procuring, storing, splitting, and reselling parts without altering characteristics. Primary purpose: mitigate distribution risks like traceability loss and counterfeit infiltration via risk-based planning and operational controls.

    Key Components

    • Over 100 aerospace-specific requirements beyond ISO 9001.
    • Core pillars: context analysis, leadership, risk planning, support resources, distribution operations (traceability, preservation, counterfeit prevention), performance evaluation, improvement.
    • Built on PDCA cycle; certification via accredited bodies with OASIS listing.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Commercial necessity for OEM/Tier-1 supply chains.
    • Reduces risks of nonconformities, enhances chain-of-custody trust.
    • Yields market access (2,442 global certifications), efficiency, stakeholder confidence.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, audits (6-12 months typical).
    • Applies to aviation/space/defense distributors globally; multi-site scalable.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 45001
    OH&S management systems, risk prevention, worker safety
    AS9120B
    Aerospace distribution QMS, traceability, counterfeit prevention

    Industry

    ISO 45001
    All industries, all sizes, global applicability
    AS9120B
    Aerospace distributors, aviation/space/defense sectors

    Nature

    ISO 45001
    Voluntary international certification standard
    AS9120B
    Voluntary aerospace quality certification standard

    Testing

    ISO 45001
    Internal audits, management reviews, certification audits
    AS9120B
    Internal audits, process audits, IAQG certification audits

    Penalties

    ISO 45001
    Loss of certification, no legal penalties
    AS9120B
    Loss of certification, market exclusion

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 45001 and AS9120B

    ISO 45001 FAQ

    AS9120B FAQ

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