News Review: Heat Treatment achieves Nadcap accreditation | ADM Dec 09/Jan 10

Heat Treatment Australia received its National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap) accreditation at a ceremony in Brisbane in late November.

Heat Treatment is the first Australian heat treatment company to receive Nadcap accreditation.

Boeing Defence Australia Director of Operations Michael Whipps presented the accreditation to Heat Treatment General Manager Karen Stanton and Managing Director Norm Tucker in front of a group of industry and Queensland Government representatives.

"The purpose of Nadcap is to implement an industry-managed approach to assessment of suppliers providing special processes to prime contractors - processes that we can't inspect after the action has been taken," Whipps said.

"The advantage for primes is that we have one standard, right across the world, so we accept any supplier that has Nadcap accreditation, and it saves us doing audits.

"Primes such as Boeing rely heavily on key suppliers who are able to carry out the special processes and, in doing so, are able to meet the stringent global requirements.

"Is Nadcap easy to achieve?

"Definitely not.

"As the head of operations and quality for Boeing, I understand the tremendous effort that goes into achieving this certification."

Heat Treatment General Manager Karen Stanton said the company had taken a "leap of faith" in working towards the accreditation and a foothold in the aerospace industry.

"Today we are already processing parts for the JSF F-35 aircraft, so that in itself is an exciting achievement for a small company.

"Now we also have, from the last five years, an ISO accreditation, an AS9100 accreditation, and as of today, our Nadcap accreditation."