The Middlesex, Vt., production facility of Web Industries' Aerospace market team has earned accreditation from Nadcap (the Natnal Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) covering the facility's composite cutting and kitting operations. The accreditation was granted November 12, 2018. Web Middlesex becomes the third Web facility within a year to earn Nadcap approval, joining the company's Denton, Texas, and Suwanee, Ga., plants.

Nadcap is an industry-managed assessment organization that establishes standards and conducts audits of aerospace industry suppliers. The official certification for Web Middlesex is to the requirements of AC7118 Rev F.

"This achievement sends a clear signal to our customers that Web Industries is a world-class aerospace manufacturing supplier," says Brad Bacon, quality manager for Web Industries' composite cutting and kitting operations. "We are committed to ensuring compliance with our customers' composite ply cutting and kitting requirements."

Improving Quality Systems

To prepare for the audit, Web Middlesex appointed a multi-disciplinary team of employees and tasked them to become familiar with Nadcap standards and procedures. The team analyzed Middlesex's quality management systems and implemented actions to close any gaps between these systems and Nadcap's requirements.

The team then held information sessions with plant employees to explain Nadcap's standards and to outline the employees' responsibilities and how they could contribute to the facility's accreditation effort. Finally, an experienced Nadcap auditor visited the Middlesex facility and conducted a rigorous assessment on-site covering multiple plant practices and procedures.

With the accrediting of the Middlesex plant, Web Industries has now standardized its quality management systems across the company's three ply cutting manufacturing sites. The Nadcap certifications remain in effect for a year. The three facilities will undergo an annual audit to maintain their certification.