How ISO 9001 and AS9100 Certifications Make KCSP Machine a Stronger Manufacturing Partner
Strong precision machine shops are always looking for ways to improve. In the first six months of 2026, KCSP Machine took a major step forward by building the systems and processes required to achieve ISO 9001 and AS9100 certification.
This certification process touches nearly every corner of our business. In pursuing ISO and AS9100 certification, our team worked hard to:
Standardize procedures
Improve traceability
Formalize training
Create systems that set our organization up for long-term, scalable success
Setting a Solid Foundation with the Right ERP System
Long before our audits began, we knew our existing systems needed to support where we wanted the company to go. That’s why we spent 2025 implementing ProShop’s ERP system. We selected this tool specifically because it supports the traceability, documentation, training, and recordkeeping required for AS9100 and ISO 9001. In addition, ProShop provided consulting services that helped guide our team through the certification process; this gave us confidence that we were building our quality system the right way from the start.
With that steady foundation in place, the KCSP Machine team officially began our AS9100 and ISO journey in January 2026.
Building a Quality System from the Ground Up
KCSP Machine’s Stage 1 audit was completed in April, followed by Stage 2 in June. It was a six-month journey that required dedication from every member of our team.
Here’s what that entailed:
Writing Procedures That Support the Entire Business
KCSP Machine already had effective processes in place throughout our 80 years in business, but many of those procedures lived in the experience of our team members. Our next project gave us the opportunity to document them, standardize them, and make them repeatable.
This led us to pursue one of the major undertakings of the certification process: creating our quality manual, which outlines how our business operates. It covers every department that contributes to the overall system, including estimating, purchasing, planning, manufacturing, inspection, shipping, supplier management, and customer service.
Training Our Team Members
Certification also requires formalized training across the organization. Every team member now follows documented training plans, and those records are maintained within our ERP system. As new skills become important, we can easily build additional training programs and track who has completed them. Not only is this helpful for creating consistency across the business, but it gives our people clear paths for continued development.
Turning Procedures into Everyday Practice
Though preparing for audits required participation from the entire company, some of the biggest changes happened on the shop floor.
Materials now remain fully identified throughout production.
Inspection procedures are standardized.
Nonconforming material follows clearly defined processes.
Measuring equipment calibration records are maintained digitally.
We also invested significant time creating inspection plans for existing parts. Even components we’ve manufactured successfully for decades now have ballooned prints and standardized quality records stored within our system. This required a considerable amount of upfront work, but once completed, those records became part of a repeatable process for future orders.
What This Means for Our Customers
Like most major business decisions we make at KCSP Machine, we pursued AS9100 and ISO certification to support our customers better than ever.
Every quote request now receives a more structured review before work begins. We evaluate manufacturing requirements, outside services, scheduling, and delivery expectations before accepting a job.
Then, once production starts, every step follows documented procedures to ensure traceability and repeatability. Historical production data allows us to review previous jobs so we can learn from past experiences and continuously improve future runs.
And these (and similar) improvements will never stop. Our team is dedicated to continuously evaluating our procedures, identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing changes, and measuring our results. It’s not enough for a process to be “good enough”; constant refinement will help us create better outcomes every time a customer agrees to partner with us again.
Are you seeking a manufacturing partner that’s built systems for long-term success with its customers in mind? Request a quote from KCSP Machine to get started.