TS EN 9104-3

TS EN 9104-3 is a quality management system standard that sets minimum requirements for auditor training, development, competence, and authentication in the aerospace, space, and defence sectors. Its focus is the coordinated framework used within the IAQG ICOP scheme, bringing together the responsibilities of auditors and the organisations that train, approve, and authenticate them so that auditor competence is defined and maintained in a consistent way.

How the ICOP roles fit together

The scope of this standard extends beyond auditors alone to include certification bodies, auditor authentication bodies, training provider approval bodies, and training providers. That distinction matters because auditor competence is not just an individual attribute; it is supported by linked processes of training, assessment, approval, and authentication. The standard supplements the requirements in EN 9104-001, EN 9104-002, EN ISO/IEC 17021-1, and EN ISO/IEC 17021-3, so it should be understood as strengthening a specific competence framework rather than defining the entire audit system on its own.

What auditor competence means in practice

In general technical terms, auditor competence combines knowledge of quality management principles, the ability to apply a process approach, evidence collection skills, consistent evaluation of findings, and impartial audit conduct. In aerospace and defence contexts, these capabilities are especially important because products and services often depend on high reliability, traceability, and disciplined coordination across supply chains. TS EN 9104-3 addresses the minimum framework for managing those capabilities among the relevant parties, while leaving detailed training syllabi, examination formats, and individual performance metrics outside the scope of this short description.