Russian Helicopters and UAC to collaborate on enhanced quality management systems for Russian aviation industry

Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and United Aircraft Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and support the Industry Controlled Other Party (ICOP) quality-assurance process in Russia. The MoU was signed today at Oboronexpo 2014 and the Engineering Technologies 2014 international forum.

“The goal of this MoU is to work together to develop and support a system of industry-controlled bodies to accredit and certify the ICOP quality-management process in Russia,” said Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO for Production Andrey Shibitov. “Working alongside UAC, we can combine our efforts to bring quality-management certification processes throughout the aviation sector supply chain in Russia into line with international standards.”

ICOP is an industry-controlled system that accredits and certifies quality management systems (QMS) across the aviation industry. It was developed and is overseen by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) to harmonise certification schemes, and is recognised by leading aerospace and defence companies.

Russian Helicopters joined the European Aerospace Quality Group (EAQG), part of the IAQG, in October 2013. Andrey Shibitov is the company's official representative to the EAQG.

“The aeroplane industry has been involved with the IAQG since 2003,” said Head of Department of Quality and Standardization Anatoly Kolosov. “At first this was just Sukhoi, while UAC joined in 2012. Russian Helicopters' accession to this organisation will take our work to a new level and will help us to consolidate the efforts of the whole industry to introduce ICOP in Russia.”

The introduction of ICOP processes in Russia will increase the accountability of the country's QMS certification bodies and their international recognisability. In the long term, this will lead to companies' QMS putting an increased focus on product quality and their development and production processes.