Key Points AS9100 certification is the baseline quality standard for aerospace machining suppliers. It establishes documented process controls, corrective action systems, and configuration management requirements that ISO 9001 alone does not cover. First Article Inspection (FAIR) per AS9102 is documented proof that a supplier's process can reliably produce a conforming part before production quantities begin. ITAR registration controls who can touch your technical data, not just who can ship hardware, making it non-negotiable for any supplier handling defense-related aerospace drawings. DFARS 252.225-7009 specialty metals compliance must be sorted before the RFQ, not after the purchase order, because material sourcing affects lead time and cost in ways that can't be fixed mid-program. Material traceability lets you track every finished part back to its mill certification, making it easier to identify and contain nonconforming material before it reaches flight hardware. Aerospace precision machining isn't just tight tolerances on metal. Every machined component on a flight vehicle or in a critical defense system carries a documentation trail, a certification pedigree, and a material lineage your supplier must prove on demand. If they can't, your program carries the risk.