Atlantic Fasteners Aerospace News

What is AS9120B certification?

AS9120B certification reflects stringent international quality management standards related to chain of ownership, traceability, stock control, and availability of records for all parts and components supplied by a vendor. It is a company-level certification based on a standard published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) titled "Quality Management Systems — Requirements for Aviation, Space, and Defense Distributors." This standard includes ISO 9001:2015.

What does it mean?

Many of the large OEMs in aviation and aerospace—including major US military contractors— require AS9120 as a quality control measure before they will do business with a supplier. This means that Atlantic Fasteners has a significant opportunity to meet a broader set of the needs of key industry players—companies like Boeing, Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and many others.

Certification to AS9120B allows an organization to expand its target markets and improve how it operates.

• An opportunity for improved product quality, traceability, and reduced risk
• Aligns your company to the best practices of the aerospace industry
• Demonstrates that you can deliver quality products and services to your customers
• Elevates your quality management system to the global standard adopted by the aerospace industry (IAQG)
• Expands your customer base to include global aviation companies

Certifications are issued by third-party certifying bodies. For an organization to maintain AS9120B certification, it will be subjected to annual or regularly scheduled audits where the organization's compliance with the standard is evaluated by the certifying body. 

Atlantic conducted a pre-audit and found three major and one minor issue, according to Dana Lees, Quality Director. His staff went to work correcting procedures, creating new ones, and streamlining processes. In the end, they managed to reduce the quality manual from 30 pages to 11. Another efficiency goal was to upgrade the parent company’s certification from ISO to AS. “We were spending too much time and money on multiple ISO and AS audits,” noted Lees.

“Did it take extra effort, of course, but it was well worth it in the end,” he concluded.  Atlantic Fasteners audit, resulted in no Findings or Minors. The firm has received its updated certification.

Compliance Certification

Shipped certifications can get lost or misplaced easily. Now, instead of calling Atlantic during business hours and asking for compliance certifications to be resent, customers can simply log in to their online accounts, pull up a listing of their shipped orders, and click on the corresponding certification link. The selected cert will download automatically, making it fast and simple to get the certifications when needed.

Atlantic president Tony Peterson asks customers to sign up for the free access to certification service today.

For more information, contact:  Dean Johnson at 413.241.2231

Atlantic Fasteners has provided barcode-based VMI services for more than 20 years. Today, 48% of its top customers use these services, said Tony Peterson, president.

The motivations for aerospace customers differ from those in the commercial segment, he noted.

“Our commercial customers value VMI most for its contribution to Lean Manufacturing,” said Peterson, “whereas our aerospace customers put the highest priority on keeping up with fast production. It makes no sense at all for a large aerospace contractor to be held up waiting for $10 fastener items.”

VMI services help manufacturers avoid using valuable staff time to manage commodities.

For more information on Barcode-based VMI Services contact:

Tony Peterson tony@atlanticfasteners.com 

800-800-BOLT (2658), ext. 108.

With interest in its Self-Scan inventory management system growing, Atlantic Fasteners has an Android app version to accompany its iPhone app.

A Self-Scan How-to video shows how simple it is for customers to manage their own inventories.

The self-scan process works as follows:

• The sales team helps determine fastener needs.
• Atlantic Fasteners Aerospace provides bar code labels 
• Customers stick the labels on their storage bins
• Inventory levels are maintained by scanning the bar codes when needs arise
• Orders transmitted from the app to Atlantic by Wi-Fi or wirelessly
• Atlantic ships in-stock items the same day when orders arrive by 3 pm

Learn more

Atlantic Fasteners, the parent company of Atlantic Fasteners Aerospace, has produced an expanded version of its Thread Galling Tech Tip. It includes pictures, more product links, and the 7 Ways to Prevent Thread Galling Solutions Guide.

Thread galling is a popular topic since it can be confusing. Our goal in researching and expanding the content was to provide a thorough explanation in simple layman’s terms.

We’ve avoided technical fastener language, so readers don’t have to be a fastener engineers to understand it.

Read more

Nylon cable ties and parts can become brittle and snap during installation, especially in the winter when it’s cold and dry.

But, rarely is defective material the cause. Instead, it’s typically a lack of moisture.

Jodie Swain, Atlantic Fasteners’ Inventory Manager with over 25 years of experience in the industry, was talking to a customer with concerns about how to fix this very issue. 

Check out her time-proven recommendation.

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Atlantic Fasteners has published a new, eight-page capabilities guide that covers all its divisions -industrial and aerospace fasteners and industrial supplies.

The new guide concisely explains:

• Quality programs and certifications
• Multiple options for technical help
• Inventory management programs
• Brands and types of supplies
• Value Added Services

Download the Capabilities Guide

If you mistake the appearance of our aerospace warehouse for the cleanliness of a pharmaceutical lab, look no further than Kevin Lees and his brother Dana, Quality Manager.

Having just celebrated 15 years at Atlantic, Kevin assists primarily in inspecting, receiving, putting away products, picking, and shipping orders.

But that’s just for starters.

Annually, at minimum, he reorganizes popular inventory to be stored closest to picking stations, thereby reducing steps. Since the mix of customers changes over time, so does the inventory they demand. And for Kevin, unnecessary work is wasteful, so he wants to eliminate it.

And when the floor cleaning machine has been known to leave streaks occasionally, Kevin’s on his knees washing the floors by hand. “Some people call me fussy, but it’s got to be right or why do it at all,” he notes.

Step outside to the grounds surrounding the warehouse and you’ll see Kevin’s influence in the plantings he’s made on his own to beautify the lawn.

There are elephant ears, which he cuts down after the first frost. He digs up and dries the bulbs then stores them in a dark place and eventually replants them again in the spring.  And come fall, he sets up two bird feeders outside the warehouse office window to feed the wildlife he enjoys.

“We are fortunate to have Kevin Lees, who’s intelligent, well organized, and meticulous,” notes general manager Tony Peterson.

With such dedication and attention to detail, it’s no wonder Atlantic orders are correct, with the proper paperwork, and get delivered on time.

In the fastener industry, technical knowledge is key.

The staff of Atlantic Fasteners’ pickup counter is addressing the issue head-on at their new 44,500-square-foot building.

Among the mounted technical charts Atlantic has created over the years to assist customers, the company now displays 17 posters from the American Fastener Journal’s Fastener Education and Training Poster set. In front and to the side of the company’s 22-foot pickup counter, the posters run at eye level for the length of the two walls most visible to customers.

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The Gateway magazine, a regional publication that spotlights New England manufacturers, featured Atlantic Fasteners for its cover story.

The story covers the company’s history, main functions, and new Agawam, MA facility.

“We’ve been featured by numerous publications in the past,” company president, Tony Peterson said.

“I feel The Gateway magazine’s portrayal of Atlantic Fasteners is outstanding – both thorough and accurate.”

Open 7 am to 5 pm on weekdays, Atlantic Fasteners is an ISO 9001:2008 and AS9120B
certified wholesale distributor of industrial and aerospace fasteners and industrial supplies.

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