Hampson Aerospace company qualifies to new standard

Citation

(2002), "Hampson Aerospace company qualifies to new standard", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774dab.021

Hampson Aerospace company qualifies to new standard

Attewell Limited, part of Hampson Aerospace Special Products Division of UK-listed Hampson Industries plc, has been given an "A" rating in the assessment for the global aerospace manufacturing standard AS9100. The company is thought to be one of only a few sub-contractors in the country to have achieved the standard.

Attewell manufactures laminated peelable shims, spacers, precision-machined and punch-pressed components for many of the world's aircraft programmes. The company also operates a comprehensive photo- chemical machining facility from the same single site in the UK.

To gam the standard the company worked closely with quality assurance personnel from leading aircraft manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic. Linked to the European (EN) standard the qualification becomes EN/AS9100 which allows Attewell to offer its range of specialist manufacturing services to a global marketplace.

Already assessed to BS EN ISO 9002, TS157, the company is currently a Green Code supplier to Airbus UK Ltd and also supports other major customers including Smiths Industries and BAE Systems on both military and commercial aircraft programmes. It also believes itself to be the only laminator company outside the USA holding Boeing BQMS D6-82479 approval.

It has also been brought to our attention that Bolsan Company Inc., a member of the Aerospace Special Products Division of Hampson Industries plc., is one of only nine suppliers to receive the Corporate STAR Supplier Award from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.

The award comes after more than two years as a STAR supplier of laminated sheets and detail shims for the C-130, F-2, F-16 and, F-22 programmes as well as for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. To qualify for the award, Bolsan's performance had to be superior in four categories: quality, delivery, affordability and management/administration.

The quality criteria included a 100 per cent product yield, rapid response for corrective action, and the application of statistical quality control and lean techniques. Affordability related to the company being able to decrease or stabilise pricing over a protracted period, responsiveness to pricing requests and the ability to carry out cost containment initiatives, while delivery performance had to be rated as exemplary with first-class compliance with paperwork and packaging demands.

Bolsan also had to demonstrate an ability to comply with and purchase order changes without breaching contract requirements and the willingness to offer management and technical assistance to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. A capability to operate an electronic commerce system was a prerequisite.