AQAP 2110 and AI: The New Standard of Quality and Security for Foundries

In today’s world, where demands for product quality and reliability are reaching unprecedented levels, especially in sectors like defence and aerospace, standard approaches to quality management are no longer sufficient. Foundries that supply mission-critical components face the need to guarantee not only that products meet specifications but also that there is complete traceability and a documented history for every single part. This is where the AQAP 2110 standard and artificial intelligence technologies come into play, heralding a new era in quality management.

This is a continuation of our previous article AQAP 2110 in EU Foundries: NATO Quality Requirements

What is AQAP 2110?

AQAP 2110 (Allied Quality Assurance Publication) is a NATO standard that defines the quality assurance requirements for the design, development, and production of defense-related products. If your company plans to become a supplier to the defence sector of NATO member countries, compliance with this standard is not just an advantage – it’s a prerequisite.  

AQAP 2110 vs. ISO 9001: More Than Just a Standard

Many are familiar with the ISO 9001 standard, which forms the basis for most quality management systems. AQAP 2110 uses ISO 9001 as its foundation but builds upon it with significantly stricter and more specific requirements. While ISO 9001 requires a company to have an effective quality system, AQAP 2110 compels it to prove that system’s effectiveness for each specific contract and every single product.

The key differences include:

• Risk Management: In AQAP 2110, this is not a general concept but a formalized, documented process that must be applied throughout the entire lifecycle of an order.  
• Configuration Management: The standard mandates strict control over all changes to drawings, technological processes, and materials. Any deviation must be documented and approved.  
• Quality Plan: A detailed Quality Plan is required for each contract, outlining exactly how compliance with all customer requirements will be ensured.  
• Traceability: The standard demands a complete, unambiguous, and documented history for every part—from raw material to the finished product.

AQAP 2110 and AI: The Role of AI in Implementing AQAP 2110

Meeting the stringent requirements of AQAP 2110, especially regarding documentation, places a colossal burden on the quality control (QC) department. Manually handling this volume of data is not only labor-intensive but also prone to error. Artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent agents have become the solution that not only simplifies but revolutionizes this process.

AI Agents in the QC Department’s Document Workflow

Imagine an intelligent software agent integrated into your company’s information system. Its task is to automatically create and maintain a “digital thread” for every casting. This process works as follows:  

• Each part is assigned a unique identifier.
• At every stage of production (from incoming raw material inspection to final inspection), the AI agent automatically collects all relevant data: material certificates, chemical analysis results of the melt, heat treatment thermograms, non-destructive testing reports, and measurement charts.
• All this data is linked to the part’s unique identifier, forming a complete, structured, and secure electronic passport.

This approach fully automates the creation of the archive required by the standard and provides instant access to any information for auditing purposes.  

Data Security and Protection Against Unauthorized Shipment

In the defense industry, data security and integrity are paramount. An AI-driven system ensures:  

• Secure Storage: All data is stored in a secure, structured database with access control and protection against unauthorized changes.
• Automated Shipment Control: The AI agent acts as an incorruptible gatekeeper. The system can be configured so that product shipment is physically blocked until the part’s digital passport is 100% complete and all control stages have been passed and verified. This completely eliminates the risk of sending unverified, unauthorized, or non-conforming products to the customer.

Optimizing Personnel

The implementation of AI is not aimed at mass layoffs. Its goal is to transform roles and increase efficiency. By automating routine, labor-intensive tasks such as collecting, verifying, and archiving documentation, AI agents free up the time of highly qualified engineers and inspectors. Instead of spending hours on paperwork, your best specialists can focus on analyzing complex cases, improving technological processes, and solving truly non-trivial problems where human experience is irreplaceable.  

The Foundry of 2030: The New Competitive Edge in the Defense Sector

Adopting the AQAP 2110 standard is a strategic move for any foundry aiming to compete in high-tech and demanding markets. While its requirements may seem dauntingly strict, modern artificial intelligence technologies turn compliance from an insurmountable task into a competitive advantage. Integrating AI agents into the quality management system not only ensures adherence to the standard but also elevates the reliability, security, and efficiency of production to a fundamentally new level.