What NADCAP is
NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) is an industry-managed audit programme run by the Performance Review Institute (PRI). It accredits suppliers performing specific aerospace 'special processes' - heat treatment, non-destructive testing (NDT), chemical processing, welding, composites, coatings and more - against detailed task-level audit criteria. Accreditation is process-specific, not site-wide.
Why NADCAP matters
- Required by most aerospace primes for special-process suppliers (Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, GE).
- Replaces individual customer audits with a single industry-recognised audit.
- Provides task-level evidence of process control beyond ISO 9001 / AS9100 generalities.
- Tracked centrally in eAuditNet, with public scope and expiry visibility.
Industries that use NADCAP
Supplier selection guidance
- 1
Identify the exact NADCAP commodity (HT, NDT, CP, WLD, etc.) your part needs.
- 2
Verify the supplier's accreditation on eAuditNet, including scope and expiry.
- 3
Confirm operator certifications (e.g. NAS 410 / EN 4179 for NDT) sit alongside the NADCAP scope.
- 4
Check the supplier's customer approval list - many aerospace primes maintain separate approvals on top of NADCAP.
Frequently asked questions
No. AS9100 is the QMS standard. NADCAP is process-specific accreditation that sits alongside it for special processes.
Not directly. NADCAP focuses on special processes whose results cannot be fully verified by later inspection. Machining is covered by AS9100 and customer-specific approvals.
Initial audits are followed by surveillance audits typically every 12-24 months depending on performance and merit.
Find NADCAP suppliers on Industrial Connected
Filter our verified UK supplier directory by certification, or post your project and let us match you with shortlisted, audit-ready suppliers.