Approving an aerospace or defence machining supplier is a high-stakes decision, and the quality manager has a veto for good reason. Here is what to check, and the questions that separate a capable supplier from a risky one.
What certifications should an aerospace machining supplier hold?
Start with the compliance gate:
- ISO 9001. The baseline quality-management standard.
- AS9100. The aerospace quality standard, built on ISO 9001 with extra rigour.
- JOSCAR. The shared pre-qualification register for aerospace and defence supply chains.
- Cyber Essentials Plus. Increasingly expected, to protect drawings and IP.
Milltech holds ISO 9001:2015 (approved by LRQA), is JOSCAR registered and holds Cyber Essentials Plus, and applies aerospace-grade documentation and traceability to defence work.
Why does traceability matter for aerospace parts?
Because the parts are flight-critical and audited. Full material and process traceability lets a buyer prove what each part is made of and exactly how it was made and, if an issue ever arises, identify every affected part. Without it, a supplier cannot pass an aerospace audit or stay on the approved-vendor list. Milltech tracks every job live through Tricorn® ERP, from raw bar to dispatch.
What capability and capacity should you check?
Confirm the supplier can actually make your part, repeatably:
- Multi-axis machining for complex geometry and undercuts.
- Tight tolerances, with CMM inspection to verify them.
- Material experience with the alloys your parts use.
- Capacity and stability, meaning enough machines and a business that will still be there in five years.
How does Milltech meet aerospace supplier requirements?
Milltech machines flight-critical and defence components to tight tolerances on a deep multi-axis fleet, verifies them by CMM inspection, and supplies full traceability under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system. Milltech is also JOSCAR registered and Cyber Essentials Plus certified, with the capacity of 40+ CNC machines and the backing of the Indutrade Group. Send your drawings and requirements to discuss your programme.
