What is the primary objective of **SAFe**?

**The primary objective of SAFe is to scale Lean-Agile practices across large enterprises to achieve Business Agility by aligning strategy, execution, and operations.** SAFe 6.0 integrates 10 immutable Lean-Agile principles, such as taking an economic view and organizing around value, with seven core competencies including Lean-Agile Leadership and Continuous Learning Culture. It structures delivery via Agile Release Trains (ARTs) of 50-125 people and Program Increments (PIs) of 8-12 weeks, enabling faster time-to-market, improved quality, and employee engagement in complex software and IT environments.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **SAFe**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with SAFe, as it is a voluntary framework for enterprise agility.** Professionally, large enterprises with hundreds of teams in software development and IT operations adopt SAFe to address scaling challenges, with over 20,000 organizations and 1 million certified practitioners using its configurations from Essential SAFe (single ARTs) to Full SAFe (portfolio-level governance). It suits regulated sectors embedding compliance via ART roles and tools like Vanta for GDPR/SOC 2.

Does **SAFe** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**SAFe does not require external audits or third-party certification for implementation.** Success relies on internal practices like PI Planning, Inspect and Adapt workshops, and certifications such as SAFe Agilist, RTE, or SPC through Scaled Agile Academy training (2-4 days per module). Organizations self-assess maturity via value stream mapping and metrics like flow and velocity, with optional SPC-led guidance for roadmap adherence.

How often should an assessment for **SAFe** be performed?

**SAFe assessments should be performed continuously via Inspect and Adapt workshops at the end of each 8-12 week Program Increment (PI).** PI events include retrospectives with ROAM risk analysis (Resolved, Owned, Accepted, Mitigated) and metrics review on ART flow, team velocity, and competency maturity. Pre-implementation uses Leading SAFe training for value stream identification; ongoing evaluations occur quarterly to drive relentless improvement across configurations.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **SAFe**?

**There are no legal consequences for non-compliance with SAFe, as it is not a regulatory standard.** Internal risks include siloed teams, dependency chaos, delayed time-to-market, and failed enterprise agility, with critiques noting hierarchy overhead or "SAFe washing" leading to 30-70% transformation failure rates. Poor adoption forfeits benefits like 30-75% productivity gains and 20-50% faster delivery reported in SAFe implementations.

An **SAFe** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, SAFe can be mapped to other international frameworks through its flexible principles and configurations.** Its 10 Lean-Agile principles and core competencies align with team-level practices like Scrum and Kanban, while ARTs and PIs extend to DevOps pipelines and Lean product development. Tools like Jira Align and SpiraPlan facilitate artifact mapping (e.g., Epics to portfolios), supporting hybrid adaptations without diluting SAFe's structure.

What is the first step to begin implementing **SAFe**?

**The first step to implement SAFe is to conduct Leading SAFe training for executives and form a Lean-Agile Center of Excellence (LACE).** Follow the SAFe Implementation Roadmap: identify value streams, train change agents (SAFe Agilist certification), and assess organizational readiness. This phased approach starts with Essential SAFe for one ART (50-125 people), prioritizing leadership buy-in to avoid pitfalls like inadequate preparation.

What is the primary objective of **AS9120B**?

**AS9120B establishes requirements for a quality management system (QMS) tailored to 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 controls addressing risks like loss of traceability, counterfeit/suspected unapproved parts, documentation errors, and external provider weaknesses. Core focus areas include chain-of-custody preservation via identification/traceability (Clause 8.5.2), counterfeit prevention (Clause 8.1.4), configuration management (Clause 8.1.2), and enhanced supplier evaluation (Clause 8.4), enabling distributors to demonstrate product conformity and safety 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 organizations performing batch splitting of aviation, space, and defense parts without modifying characteristics.** It targets entities procuring, storing, and reselling without value-added activities like machining or assembly; excludes MRO or product-altering operations. Certification is not legally mandated but is a commercial requirement from OEMs and primes for supply chain approval, with 2,442 global certifications (836 U.S.) as of May 2023, functioning as a de facto market entry criterion via IAQG’s OASIS database.

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

**AS9120B requires third-party certification through accredited bodies for formal recognition and OASIS listing.** Organizations conduct internal audits (Clause 9.2) at planned intervals, but external Stage 1 (documentation) and Stage 2 (implementation) audits per AS9101 are mandatory for certification, followed by annual surveillance and triennial recertification to verify QMS effectiveness.

How often should an assessment for **AS9120B** be performed?

**AS9120B requires internal audits at planned intervals to cover the QMS annually, plus management reviews at defined intervals.** Clause 9.2 mandates an audit program ensuring objectivity, with results feeding into corrective actions (Clause 10.2); external surveillance audits occur yearly post-certification, with full recertification every three years.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **AS9120B**?

**Non-compliance with AS9120B risks commercial exclusion, supply chain disqualification, and operational liabilities.** Lacking certification prevents OEM/Tier-1 approval and OASIS visibility; audit failures yield nonconformities, potential certification denial/suspension, recalls, product safety incidents, and legal exposure from counterfeit parts or traceability loss.

Can **AS9120B** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**AS9120B aligns directly with ISO 9001:2015’s high-level structure, enabling seamless mapping and integration.** Its 10-clause PDCA framework shares Clauses 4-10 verbatim as baseline, with aerospace additions (e.g., counterfeit controls, traceability) layered atop, facilitating dual certification without redundant efforts.

What is the first step to begin implementing **AS9120B**?

**The first step for AS9120B implementation is conducting a gap analysis against its clauses using a certified checklist.** Document QMS scope (Clause 4.3), justify non-applicable requirements (e.g., 8.3 design), identify internal/external issues (4.1-4.2), and prioritize distributor risks like traceability and suppliers to create an actionable backlog.

SAFe vs AS9120B

Standards Comparison

SAFe

Voluntary

2023

Framework scaling Lean-Agile for enterprise Business Agility

AS9120B

Mandatory

2016

Aerospace QMS standard for parts distributors

Quick Verdict

SAFe scales Agile for enterprise software delivery, enabling business agility in IT. AS9120B mandates QMS for aerospace distributors, ensuring traceability and counterfeit prevention. Companies adopt SAFe for faster time-to-market; AS9120B for supply chain approval.

Agile Scaling

SAFe

Scaled Agile Framework 6.0

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Agile Release Trains coordinate 50-125 people for alignment
Program Increments enable 8-12 week synchronized delivery
Four scalable configurations from Essential to Full SAFe
10 immutable Lean-Agile principles guide all practices
Seven core competencies drive Business Agility

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
Risk-based external provider evaluation and monitoring
Configuration management via sales order records
Preservation and product safety operational controls

Detailed Analysis

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

SAFe Details

What It Is

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 is a comprehensive framework for scaling Lean-Agile practices across large enterprises. It enables Business Agility by aligning strategy, execution, and operations. SAFe uses systems thinking, integrating Agile, Lean, and DevOps principles for value stream delivery.

Key Components

**Agile Release Trains (ARTs)50-125 cross-functional people for synchronized PIs.
**Program Increments (PIs)8-12 week cadences with PI Planning and Inspect & Adapt.
10 immutable Lean-Agile principles, like economic view and decentralization.
Seven **core competenciesLean-Agile Leadership, Team Agility, etc.
Four configurations: Essential, Large Solution, Portfolio, Full. SAFe offers certifications like SAFe Agilist and RTE.

Why Organizations Use It

Accelerates time-to-market 20-50%, boosts productivity 30-75%.
Scales Agile for complex IT/software environments.
Enhances quality, engagement, compliance in regulated sectors.
Builds competitive agility via flow metrics and alignment.

Implementation Overview

Phased roadmap: training, value stream mapping, ART launches.
Targets large enterprises in software/IT globally.
Involves Leading SAFe training, SPC coaching, metrics-driven improvement.

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, using a risk-based approach to address supply chain risks like traceability loss and counterfeits.

Key Components

Over 100 aerospace-specific additions to ISO 9001 across 10 clauses.
Core areas: context analysis, leadership, planning, support, operations (traceability, counterfeit prevention, external providers), 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.
Mitigates risks of nonconformities, counterfeits; enhances traceability.
Builds customer trust, market access (2,442 global certifications).
Drives efficiency, reduces liabilities.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, audits (6-12 months).
For distributors in aviation/space/defense; scalable by size.
Requires internal audits, management review, third-party certification.

Key Differences

Aspect	SAFe	AS9120B
Scope	Scaling Agile for enterprise software/IT	QMS for aerospace parts distribution
Industry	Software, IT operations, enterprises globally	Aerospace distribution, aviation/space/defense
Nature	Voluntary agile scaling framework	Certification standard based on ISO 9001
Testing	PI planning, Inspect & Adapt workshops	Internal audits, certification body audits
Penalties	No legal penalties, implementation failure	Loss of certification, market exclusion

Scope

SAFe

Scaling Agile for enterprise software/IT

AS9120B

QMS for aerospace parts distribution

Industry

SAFe

Software, IT operations, enterprises globally

AS9120B

Aerospace distribution, aviation/space/defense

Nature

SAFe

Voluntary agile scaling framework

AS9120B

Certification standard based on ISO 9001

Testing

SAFe

PI planning, Inspect & Adapt workshops

AS9120B

Internal audits, certification body audits

Penalties

SAFe

No legal penalties, implementation failure

AS9120B

Loss of certification, market exclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SAFe and AS9120B

SAFe FAQ

AS9120B FAQ

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SAFe

AS9120B

Quick Verdict

SAFe

Key Features

AS9120B

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

SAFe Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

AS9120B Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

SAFe FAQ

What is the primary objective of SAFe?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with SAFe?

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

How often should an assessment for SAFe be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with SAFe?

An SAFe be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing SAFe?

AS9120B FAQ

What is the primary objective of AS9120B?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with AS9120B?

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

How often should an assessment for AS9120B be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with AS9120B?

Can AS9120B be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing AS9120B?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

PDPA Cross-Border Transfer Rules Decoded: Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan Mechanisms Compared with Practical Implementation Templates

Using CIS Controls v8.1 as a ‘Compliance On-Ramp’: Map One Security Program to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS2

SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria in Plain English: Side-by-Side Decoder with Real-World Analogies

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

IEC 62443 vs ISO 13485

WCAG vs IEC 62443

ISO 55001 vs ISO 27018