NADCAP Special Process Accreditation
NADCAP accreditation is non-negotiable for aerospace special process suppliers. The PRI audit is technically demanding and customer-driven. We prepare your processes, procedures, and team so you achieve accreditation — and keep it.
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Industry-managed accreditation for aerospace-critical processes
NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) is managed by the Performance Review Institute (PRI) and mandated by major aerospace primes — Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and others — for suppliers performing special processes on aerospace parts and assemblies.
Special processes are manufacturing operations where the process itself, not just the finished product, must be controlled — because defects in the process may not be detectable in the finished part. NADCAP accreditation provides aerospace customers a single, industry-wide audit instead of individual customer audits for every prime you supply.
Special process categories we support
Thermal & chemical processing
- Heat treatment (AC7102 checklist)
- Chemical processing — anodize, plating, conversion coating
- Shot peening and surface treatment
Joining & fabrication
- Welding — fusion, resistance, and electron beam (AC7110)
- Brazing and soldering for aerospace applications
- Composite material fabrication and processing
Inspection & testing
- Non-Destructive Testing — PT, MT, RT, UT, ET (AC7114)
- Measurement systems and laboratory accreditation
- Fluid distribution and electrical / electronic systems
Our NADCAP preparation approach
Checklist-driven, technically precise, and calibrated to the specific commodity your audit covers.
- 1
Checklist gap assessment
We work through the applicable NADCAP audit criteria checklist (e.g., AC7102 for heat treatment) line-by-line against your current process controls, equipment qualifications, and records.
- 2
Process & procedure remediation
We help close specific gaps: procedure updates, equipment qualification documentation, operator certification records, and process parameter controls — targeted to the audit checklist.
- 3
Mock audit
Full mock NADCAP audit using the actual PRI checklist before the scheduled accreditation audit — identifies any remaining findings so they can be resolved before the auditor arrives.
- 4
Audit support & CAPA
We support the PRI audit, manage nonconformance responses, and prepare corrective action plans that PRI and your subscribing customers will accept.
What you get
Checklist gap report
Line-by-line assessment against your specific NADCAP commodity checklist — with findings prioritized by audit risk.
Procedure and records package
Updated process procedures, equipment qualification records, and operator certification documentation built to the audit criteria.
Mock audit report
Pre-audit dry run with a full written report — so you go into the PRI audit knowing exactly where you stand.
CAPA for PRI findings
Corrective action responses to NADCAP audit findings — written to the level of rigor PRI and subscribing customers require.
Ongoing surveillance preparation
Periodic audit checklist review and internal process audits to maintain accreditation across renewal cycles.
Multi-commodity support
If you hold or are pursuing accreditation in multiple NADCAP commodities, we coordinate preparation across all checklists simultaneously.
Related services
AS9100
Most NADCAP suppliers also hold or are pursuing AS9100 certification — the two programs complement each other closely.
Learn moreRCA / CAPA
Structured root cause analysis and corrective action for NADCAP audit findings and process escapes.
Learn moreInternal Auditing
Ongoing internal audit program to maintain NADCAP readiness between PRI accreditation audits.
Learn morePreparing for a NADCAP audit?
Tell us which commodity and your target audit date. We'll scope the preparation work and tell you exactly what needs to happen before the PRI auditor arrives.
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