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Analytical Qualification of Aircraft Structures

Many engineering companies use a Quality Management System to ISO 9001 as a means
of controlling quality and standards in their products and operations. The National
Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards has recently issued a Quality Systems
Supplement on the application of ISO 9001 to the use of finite element analysis in the
design and validation of engineering products. The paper presents a 'rolenwdel' for a
quality system designed to fulfil the requirements of that document. Quality aspects of
the following topics are covered;nwnagement of the analysis operation; acquisition,
development and verification of software; qualification and documentation of analysis
methods; project analysis; education and training of personnel. comments are included,
based on experience of implementing finite element quality procedures.
Many commercial organisations have a Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance
with the requirements of ISO 9001 (ref. 1), BS 5750, AQAPl etc. Used sensibly, a QMS
provides the necessary infrastructure for improving and controlling the quality and
reliability of finite element analysis. The National Agency for Finite Element Methods
and Standards (NAFEMS)have produced a Quality Systems Supplement (988) which addresses
the application of ISO 9001 to finite element analysis. The QSS (ref. 2), like all QA
requirements specifications, is written primarily for assessors and in the required
format of ISO 9001. This is not the most useful form for prospective assessees, who have
to fit the 'jigsaMIpuzzle' of requirements into a quality system. The purpose of this
paper is to outline a quality system model containing the main features required to
satisfy the QSS. Except for items covered.by the overall QMS infrastructure, the model
attempts to cover every section of the QSS pertaining to product integrity analysis. In
order to correlate the features of the model with the Q58 requirements, references to
sections of the Q88 are included in the text in the form (Q,4.l.1). These relationships
are also summarised in Table 1 to help identify relevant sections of the current paper
when working with the Q88.
This interpretation is not unique and is only one of many systems which could
fulfil the requirements. However it is hoped that, by highlighting the relevant issues,
it will help others in designing QA procedures appropriate to their application.