What is the primary objective of PRINCE2?

The primary objective of PRINCE2 is to provide a structured project management method for controlled delivery of value through reliable governance, decision rights, and exception-based escalation. Organized as a “methodology of 7s,” it integrates seven Principles (e.g., continued business justification, manage by stages), seven Practices (Business Case, Organizing, Plans, Quality, Risk, Issues, Progress), and seven Processes (Starting Up a Project to Closing a Project). This ensures projects remain viable, tailored to context, and focused on products with defined acceptance criteria.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with PRINCE2?

No organizations are legally required to comply with PRINCE2, as it is a voluntary project management standard rather than a regulatory mandate. Professionally, it is recommended for executives, project boards (Executive, Senior User, Senior Supplier), project managers, and teams in public-sector procurement, regulated industries, or enterprises seeking auditable governance. Certification pathways (Foundation → Practitioner) build competence for these roles.

Does PRINCE2 require an external audit or third-party certification?

PRINCE2 does not require external audits or third-party certification for organizational compliance. It emphasizes internal assurance via Project Assurance roles, stage boundary reviews, and management products like the PID, highlight reports, and registers. Individual certifications (Foundation, Practitioner) from PeopleCert are optional but demonstrate competence; project success relies on principle adherence, not formal audits.

How often should an assessment for PRINCE2 be performed?

PRINCE2 assessments occur at defined stage boundaries and through ongoing practices, not on a fixed calendar schedule. Key checkpoints include Managing a Stage Boundary processes for business case updates, tolerance reviews, and board authorizations, plus continuous monitoring via Progress and Risk Practices. Lessons logs support periodic retrospectives; tailoring determines frequency based on project scale.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with PRINCE2?

Non-compliance with PRINCE2 results in organizational risks like project failure, cost overruns, and governance gaps, but no legal penalties since it is not mandatory. Internally, it leads to weak business justification, uncontrolled scope, repeated errors without lessons capture, and inefficient executive oversight. Tailored adherence improves success rates over dogmatic or absent use.

An PRINCE2 be mapped to other international frameworks?

Yes, PRINCE2 can be mapped to other frameworks through its principle-based, scalable structure and explicit compatibility guidance. The 7th Edition supports hybrid delivery (e.g., linear, iterative), with practices aligning to agile tools like Kanban and earned value management. Tailoring enables integration while preserving core governance like stages and tolerances.

What is the first step to begin implementing PRINCE2?

The first step to implement PRINCE2 is Starting Up a Project (SU), creating a project mandate and brief to test viability. Appoint the Executive and Project Manager, assess previous lessons, prepare an outline Business Case, and plan initiation. This enforces continued business justification before full commitment.

What is the primary objective of AS9120B?

AS9120B establishes a quality management system (QMS) for organizations that procure, store, split, and resell aerospace parts without altering product characteristics. Built on ISO 9001:2015’s 10-clause structure, it adds over 100 distributor-specific requirements addressing risks like loss of traceability, counterfeit/suspected unapproved parts, documentation errors, and external provider controls to ensure chain-of-custody integrity in aviation, space, and defense supply chains.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with AS9120B?

AS9120B applies to stockist distributors, pass-through distributors, and those performing batch splitting of aerospace parts without modifying conformity. Certification is not legally mandatory but is a commercial requirement from OEMs and primes for supply chain approval; as of early 2026, over 2,500 global certifications (over 850 U.S.) underscore its role as a de facto market entry criterion for aviation, space, and defense distributors.

Does AS9120B require an external audit or third-party certification?

AS9120B requires third-party certification through accredited bodies for OASIS listing and customer recognition. Organizations undergo Stage 1 (documentation review) and Stage 2 (on-site effectiveness audit) per IAQG rules, followed by annual surveillance and triennial recertification to verify QMS conformance.

How often should an assessment for AS9120B be performed?

AS9120B requires internal audits at planned intervals to cover the full QMS annually, plus management reviews at defined intervals. External surveillance audits occur annually post-certification, with full recertification every three years; assessments evaluate Clause 9 monitoring, customer satisfaction, and risk action effectiveness.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with AS9120B?

Non-compliance with AS9120B results in certification denial, suspension, or withdrawal, plus exclusion from OEM supply chains. Audit findings trigger corrective actions; persistent issues lead to major nonconformities, contract penalties, OASIS delisting, reputational damage, and potential liability for counterfeit part propagation or traceability failures.

An AS9120B be mapped to other international frameworks?

AS9120B aligns directly with ISO 9001:2015’s high-level structure, enabling seamless mapping of its 10 clauses. It shares PDCA logic, risk-based thinking, and documented information controls, allowing integrated QMS implementation while retaining aerospace additions like counterfeit prevention and traceability.

What is the first step to begin implementing AS9120B?

The first step is conducting a gap analysis against AS9120B clauses using a certified checklist to identify conformance gaps. Define QMS scope (Clause 4.3) with justified “not applicable” determinations (e.g., Clause 8.3 design), document context/interested parties, and prioritize distributor risks like traceability and external providers.

Standards Comparison

PRINCE2 vs AS9120B

PRINCE2

Voluntary

2023

Structured methodology for controlled project governance

AS9120B

Mandatory

2016

Aerospace QMS standard for parts distributors.

Quick Verdict

PRINCE2 provides structured project governance for any industry, while AS9120B mandates quality management for aerospace distributors. Companies adopt PRINCE2 for controlled delivery and AS9120B for supply chain compliance and market access.

Project Management

PRINCE2

PRINCE2: Projects IN Controlled Environments (7th Edition)

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Seven principles as guiding compliance obligations
Manage by exception using tolerance thresholds
Staged lifecycle with board authorization gates
Tailoring mandatory for project context fit
Continuous practices ensuring ongoing control

Quality Management

AS9120B

AS9120B Quality Management Systems - Requirements

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Counterfeit and suspected unapproved parts prevention
Traceability and chain-of-custody controls for split lots
Enhanced external provider evaluation and flowdown
Configuration management via sales order identifiers
Risk-based operational planning and preservation

Detailed Analysis

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

PRINCE2 Details

What It Is

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments), 7th Edition, is a process-based project management framework. It provides governance, control, and delivery for projects of any scale. The methodology emphasizes principle-driven, tailored application with staged decision-making and exception management.

Key Components

**Seven PrinciplesContinued business justification, learn from experience, defined roles, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, tailor to suit.
**Seven PracticesBusiness case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues, progress.
**Seven ProcessesStarting up, directing, initiating, controlling stage, managing delivery, stage boundaries, closing.
Certification via Foundation and Practitioner levels.

Why Organizations Use It

Delivers repeatable governance, reduces risks via tolerances, ensures viability checks. Supports compliance, audit trails, stakeholder alignment. Boosts success rates through tailoring, enhances executive efficiency.

Implementation Overview

Phased rollout: gap analysis, tailoring blueprint, training, pilots, institutionalization. Suits all sizes/industries; scalable via role combinations. No mandatory certification but recommended for competence.

AS9120B Details

What It Is

AS9120B is the IAQG quality management system standard for aviation, space, and defense distributors. It augments ISO 9001:2015's high-level structure with distributor-specific requirements. Primary purpose: ensure traceability, prevent counterfeits, and maintain product conformity without altering parts. Adopts risk-based thinking and PDCA approach.

Key Components

Over 100 aerospace additions to ISO 9001 clauses 4-10.
Core areas: context analysis, leadership, planning, support, operations (traceability, preservation, supplier controls), evaluation, improvement.
Built on 10-clause HLS; emphasizes counterfeit prevention, configuration management, external provider flowdown.
Certification via accredited bodies, OASIS listing.

Why Organizations Use It

Commercial necessity for OEM/Tier-1 supply chains.
Mitigates risks like traceability loss, counterfeits.
Enhances market access, customer trust, efficiency.
Builds resilience, reduces nonconformities.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, audits (6-12 months).
Applies to distributors globally; scales by size.
Requires internal audits, management review, certification audits.

Key Differences

Aspect	PRINCE2	AS9120B
Scope	Project governance, principles, practices, processes	Aerospace distributor QMS, traceability, counterfeit prevention
Industry	All industries, global project management	Aerospace distribution, aviation/space/defense sectors
Nature	Voluntary project management methodology	Certification quality management standard
Testing	Internal tailoring, no formal certification required	Third-party audits, certification, surveillance
Penalties	No legal penalties, loss of governance benefits	Loss of certification, market exclusion

Scope

PRINCE2

Project governance, principles, practices, processes

AS9120B

Aerospace distributor QMS, traceability, counterfeit prevention

Industry

PRINCE2

All industries, global project management

AS9120B

Aerospace distribution, aviation/space/defense sectors

Nature

PRINCE2

Voluntary project management methodology

AS9120B

Certification quality management standard

Testing

PRINCE2

Internal tailoring, no formal certification required

AS9120B

Third-party audits, certification, surveillance

Penalties

PRINCE2

No legal penalties, loss of governance benefits

AS9120B

Loss of certification, market exclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PRINCE2 and AS9120B

PRINCE2 FAQ

AS9120B FAQ

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What It Is

Key Components

**Seven PrinciplesContinued business justification, learn from experience, defined roles, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, tailor to suit.

**Seven PracticesBusiness case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues, progress.

**Seven ProcessesStarting up, directing, initiating, controlling stage, managing delivery, stage boundaries, closing.

Certification via Foundation and Practitioner levels.

What It Is

Key Components

Over 100 aerospace additions to ISO 9001 clauses 4-10.

Core areas: context analysis, leadership, planning, support, operations (traceability, preservation, supplier controls), evaluation, improvement.

Built on 10-clause HLS; emphasizes counterfeit prevention, configuration management, external provider flowdown.

Certification via accredited bodies, OASIS listing.

Aspect

PRINCE2

AS9120B

Scope

Project governance, principles, practices, processes

Aerospace distributor QMS, traceability, counterfeit prevention

Industry

All industries, global project management

Aerospace distribution, aviation/space/defense sectors

Nature

Voluntary project management methodology

Certification quality management standard

Testing

Internal tailoring, no formal certification required

Third-party audits, certification, surveillance

Penalties

No legal penalties, loss of governance benefits

Loss of certification, market exclusion