SCMH Section 5.2.

3
Revision Letter: New
Revision Date: 15 JAN 2015
Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)

RATIONALE

This document includes Certificate of Conformance (CofC) guidance material and template for
use within the Aviation, Space & Defence Industry.

FOREWORD

To assure customer satisfaction, aviation, space, and defense organizations must

produce and continually improve safe, reliable products that meet or exceed customer
and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The globalization of the industry
and the resulting diversity of regional and national requirements and expectations have
complicated this objective. Organizations face the challenge of purchasing products from
suppliers throughout the world and at all levels of the supply chain. Industry suppliers and
processors face the challenge of delivering products to multiple customers having varying
quality requirements and expectations.

The aviation, space, and defense industry established the International Aerospace
Quality Group (IAQG) for the purpose of achieving significant improvements in quality
and safety, and reductions in cost throughout the value stream. This organization includes
representation from companies in the Americas, Asia/Pacific, and Europe. This document
has been prepared by the IAQG.

This document gives guidance for a Certificate of Conformance (CofC) to the greatest extent
possible and can be used at all levels of the supply chain by organizations around the
world to provide a consistent process and documentation requirements for verification of
aviation, space, and defense product. Its use should result in improved quality, schedule,
and cost performance by the reduction or elimination of organization-unique requirements
and wider application of good practices.

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 SCMH Section 5.2.3
Revision Letter: New
Revision Date: 15 JAN 2015
Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RATIONALE ................................................................................................................................................... 1
FOREWORD................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS ................................................................................................................... 3
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................... 3
3.1. Authorized Release Certificate ......................................................................................................... 3
3.2. Certificate of Conformance .............................................................................................................. 3
4. CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE TEMPLATE ...................................................................................... 4
5. COMPLETION GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................... 5
6. USE OF CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE TEMPLATE ......................................................................... 6

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 SCMH Section 5.2.3
Revision Letter: New
Revision Date: 15 JAN 2015
Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)
1. SCOPE
This document gives guidance for a Certificate of Conformance (CofC) Aviation, Space
& Defense Industry. This document includes guidance material and a template for a
Certificate of Conformance.

Note: Customer requirements and the regulation regarding content of CofC takes
precedence on everything stated in this document.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS
The following documents support the application/use of this standard. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. When a conflict between
this guidance and the referenced documents exist, the requirements of the flow down
document shall take precedence.

9100 Quality Management Systems – Requirements for Aviation, Space and Defense
Organizations

9131 Quality Management Systems – Nonconformance Data Definition and

Documentation

NOTE: Equivalent versions (e.g., AS, EN, JISQ, SJAC, NBR) of the IAQG
standards listed above are published internationally in each IAQG sector.

ISO 9000 Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary

3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1. Authorized Release Certificate

A document (e.g. FAA Form 8130-3, EASA Form 1) issued by Production Approval
Holders stating that a product, a part, or a component was manufactured in accordance
with approved/non-approved design data.

Note: Conformity to Approved Design data can only be attested when appropriate
coordination exists between the Type Certificate Holder and the Production
Organization and when approval status of the configuration have been confirmed.
In other cases, e.g. when the configuration is not yet certified (e.g. prototype pending
certification, some modifications not yet approved, Airworthiness Directive not applied,
etc.), only conformity to non-approved design data can be attested.

3.2. Certificate of Conformance

A document issued by the supplier to confirm that the delivered products fulfill the
relevant specification, applicable design data (e.g. drawing) and purchase order
requirements.
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 SCMH Section 5.2.3
Revision Letter: New
Revision Date: 15 JAN 2015
Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)
4. CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE TEMPLATE

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 SCMH Section 5.2.3
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Revision Date: 15 JAN 2015
Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)
5. COMPLETION GUIDELINES

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 SCMH Section 5.2.3
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Section 5.2
Certificate of Conformance (CofC)
6. USE OF CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE TEMPLATE
• The CofC form is not a fixed template, the width and length of the boxes may change
based on data input.

• There can be multiple items listed on a CofC. In case multiple items are from different
Purchase Orders (PO), the link must be made between each of the different items and
the corresponding PO.

• Check block #1 for the appropriate page numbering; i.e. 1/1, 1/2, 2/2 etc.

• If a block is not applicable it is recommended that the space be completed by entering

“N/A”.

• When submitting a non-conformance the supplier should also provide reference to the
customer’s acknowledgement in the Block 13. For customer notification of non-
conformances refer to IAQG 9131.

• The suppliers system should ensure that only authorized personnel can initiate, sign and
issue CofC’s and provide traceability to that person and to the relevant skills and
competences (training performed, experience in the conformity attestation process and
customer requirements, etc.). The personnel authorized to initiate, sign and issue CofC’s
should in particular be aware of their level of responsibilities and impact of possible
mistakes and/or fraudulent actions.

• Electronically generated Certificates of Conformities are acceptable, provided they are

compliant with all other appropriate elements of this document, in particular verification
that only authorized personnel can validate a CofC in the corresponding IT tool. An
electronic representation of that person’s signature may also be shown but is not
mandatory.

• Copies of the CofC may be retained in their original paper format or in a secure
database, provided that the database contains all of the information required on the
CofC and they are filled and secured in line with customer and regulatory requirements
(e.g. double archiving, storage duration, protection against fire, water, etc.)

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