Hawthorn Composites goes paperless with electronic quality management system
The composites manufacturer has established a completelt digital workspace and eliminated the use of paper for all processes, which allows them to achieve AS-9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications.
Tablet-enabled toolstation. Photo Credit: Hawthorn Composites.
Hawthorn Composites (Xenia, Ohio, U.S.), a division of Spintech Holdings Inc. that specializes in manufacturing of low-cost composite moldings and assemblies, reports that it successfully achieved AS-9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications on March 19, 2021.
Hawthorn Composites combines low-cost raw materials (dry fiber and liquid resin), resin infusion techniques, automated dry fiber preforms and over braiding and novel manufacturing methods to deliver aerospace-quality composites at price points that are said to be significantly lower than can be obtained using traditional manufacturing methods (see “Braided preforms and resin infusion for next-generation aerocomposites”).
Using a combination of real-time document control and digital work instructions, Hawthorn Composites reports that it has established a completely digital workspace for manufacturing and eliminated the use of paper for all processes. This combination reduces waste, increases efficiency and improves quality.
Hawthorn Composites uses the quality management system (QMS) software QT9 to centralize all data in a single cloud-based platform, maintaining document control and eliminating the risk of out-of-date documents being referenced. Digital work instructions are created using VKS work instruction software. Each operator’s workstation is equipped with a tablet computer that loads digital work instructions, enabling operators to read picture and video annotated work instructions, while simultaneously using the tablets to digitally capture quality records.
“Hawthorn Composites is dedicated to accomplishing the highest quality results for our customers and believe our fully digital implementation of AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 will allow us to continually deliver composite parts that accomplish this objective,” says Craig Jennings, the chief executive officer of Hawthorn Composites.
AS9100 is an aerospace standard based on the ISO 9001 quality system requirements, adding more stringent requirements specific to the aviation, space and defense industry. The standard takes the requirements of ISO 9001 and supplements them with additional quality system requirements, which are established by the aerospace industry in order to satisfy Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quality requirements.
