Standards Comparison

    PRINCE2

    Voluntary
    2023

    Structured project management methodology for governance control

    VS

    AS9110C

    Mandatory
    2016

    Aerospace QMS standard for aviation maintenance organizations.

    Quick Verdict

    PRINCE2 provides structured project governance for any industry, while AS9110C mandates quality management for aviation maintenance. Companies adopt PRINCE2 for controlled delivery and AS9110C for regulatory compliance and airworthiness assurance.

    Project Management

    PRINCE2

    PRINCE2 7th Edition (Projects IN Controlled Environments)

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

    Key Features

    • Manage by exception with tolerance-based escalation
    • Management by stages for controlled progression
    • Continued business justification throughout lifecycle
    • Tailoring to suit project environment and scale
    • Defined roles for clear accountability and governance
    Quality Management

    AS9110C

    AS9110C: Quality Management Systems for Aviation Maintenance

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

    Key Features

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

    Detailed Analysis

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

    PRINCE2 Details

    What It Is

    PRINCE2® 7th Edition, officially Projects IN Controlled Environments, is a process-based project management framework. It delivers reliable governance and control for projects of any scale or complexity. Core approach: principle-driven, with continuous practices embedded in lifecycle processes for value-focused delivery.

    Key Components

    • **7 PrinciplesGuiding obligations like continued business justification, manage by exception, tailoring.
    • **7 PracticesBusiness case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues, progress—applied continuously.
    • **7 ProcessesStarting up, directing, initiating, controlling stage, product delivery, stage boundary, closing. Compliance via Foundation/Practitioner certification; no mandatory audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • **Strategic governanceException management frees executives; stages enable investment checks.
    • **Risk/compliance benefitsAudit trails via products like PID, registers; supports regulations.
    • **Tailored scalabilityHigher success than rigid use; builds stakeholder trust.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased rollout: gap analysis, tailoring blueprint, training, pilots, institutionalization. Suits all sizes/industries globally. Focus: certification paths, templates, coaching for competence.

    AS9110C Details

    What It Is

    AS9110C (AS9110:2016 Rev C) is an international quality management system (QMS) standard for aviation maintenance organizations, such as repair stations and MRO providers. It builds on ISO 9001:2015 with aerospace-specific requirements using a risk-based thinking approach and Annex SL high-level structure across Clauses 4–10.

    Key Components

    • Core pillars: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
    • Aviation additions: configuration management, counterfeit parts prevention, human factors, traceability, product safety.
    • Follows PDCA cycle; no fixed number of controls but requires documented information for evidence.
    • Certification via accredited bodies with audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Ensures continuing airworthiness and regulatory compliance (e.g., FAA/EASA).
    • Meets customer/OEM contracts for market access.
    • Mitigates safety risks, improves on-time delivery.
    • Builds stakeholder trust via OASIS listing.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, audits (6-12 months typical).
    • Applies to MROs globally; requires internal audits, management reviews before certification.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    PRINCE2
    Project management methodology with principles, practices, processes
    AS9110C
    Quality management system for aviation maintenance organizations

    Industry

    PRINCE2
    All industries worldwide, scalable to any project
    AS9110C
    Aerospace MRO, repair stations globally

    Nature

    PRINCE2
    Voluntary process framework and certification
    AS9110C
    Certification standard based on ISO 9001

    Testing

    PRINCE2
    Practitioner exams, no mandatory audits
    AS9110C
    Internal audits, management reviews, certification audits

    Penalties

    PRINCE2
    No legal penalties, loss of certification
    AS9110C
    Certification loss, regulatory/contractual risks

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about PRINCE2 and AS9110C

    PRINCE2 FAQ

    AS9110C FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages