Every aerospace manufacturing, quality, and supply-chain term used across the CWP-700 Composite
Wing Panel Production Program suite, defined in plain language. A companion glossary for PMBOK/waterfall
terminology (as used in the Enrollment & Claims PM Suite) is linked from that suite's homepage.
Quality System & Standards
AS9100The aerospace industry's quality management system standard — ISO 9001 plus aviation/space/defense-specific requirements (configuration control, FAI, special-process controls, traceability, counterfeit-parts prevention).
AS9102The specific AS-series standard governing First Article Inspection reporting — the Form 1/2/3 package format.
Configuration ControlThe discipline of formally tracking and approving any change to a part's design, tooling, or process — the aerospace equivalent of change control, but tied to physical hardware, not just documents.
TraceabilityThe ability to trace any delivered part back to its specific raw-material lot, process records, and inspection results — required end-to-end from receipt through delivery.
Counterfeit Parts PreventionAS9100-mandated controls to keep unauthorized or fraudulent parts/materials out of the supply chain.
Critical Design Review CDRA formal design-maturity gate before fabrication begins — used in this suite's WBS ahead of tooling fabrication, the aerospace-appropriate equivalent of an Architecture Review Board.
Inspection & Nonconformance
First Article Inspection FAIFull dimensional, material, and process verification of the first production unit of a part before volume production is authorized.
Material Review Board MRBThe cross-functional board that dispositions nonconforming parts or lots as use-as-is, rework, scrap, or return-to-supplier.
NonconformanceA part or lot characteristic found not to meet its engineering requirement — the trigger for an MRB disposition.
DispositionThe MRB's formal decision on what happens to a nonconforming part — one of use-as-is, rework, scrap, or return-to-supplier.
Use-as-isAn MRB disposition accepting a nonconforming part without rework, based on an engineering judgment that it still meets design intent.
ReworkAn MRB disposition authorizing corrective work to bring a nonconforming part into spec, followed by re-inspection.
ScrapAn MRB disposition when no rework path is defensible — the part is destroyed/discarded and root cause is investigated to prevent repeats.
Return-to-Supplier RTSAn MRB disposition rejecting a nonconforming raw material or component lot back to its supplier rather than accepting it into production.
Non-Destructive Testing NDTInspection methods (ultrasonic, X-ray, etc.) that verify internal part integrity without damaging the part.
Coordinate Measuring Machine CMMPrecision equipment used for full dimensional layout during FAI, measuring a part against its engineering drawing to fractions of a millimeter.
Root Cause Corrective Action RCCAThe formal investigation and preventive-action process following a nonconformance, so the same defect doesn't recur (e.g., the preventive maintenance program that followed the layup fixture wear finding).
Manufacturing Process
Composite LayupThe hands-on process of hand-placing composite material plies into a mold or tool ahead of curing — the most labor-intensive step in composite panel production.
PrepregComposite reinforcement fiber pre-impregnated with resin, stored refrigerated until layup — the primary raw material for this program's panels.
PlyA single layer of composite material in a layup — panels are built up from multiple plies in a specified stacking sequence.
Autoclave / Cure CycleThe pressurized, heated oven process that cures (hardens) a composite layup into its final solid form — a distinct, specialized step from layup itself.
Trim & DrillPost-cure machining steps that trim a cured panel to final dimensions and drill fastener holes — also a distinct specialized step from layup.
Tooling / FixtureThe custom molds and holding fixtures a part is built on — must themselves be designed, fabricated, and qualified before production parts can be built.
Supply Chain & Program-Specific
Production Part Approval Process PPAPSupplier-quality qualification process (borrowed from automotive, used in aerospace supply chains) confirming a supplier can reliably produce a part to spec.
Tier 1 SupplierA supplier delivering directly to an aircraft OEM (as opposed to a Tier 2/3 supplier delivering to another supplier) — Acme Aerostructures' role on this program.
Original Equipment Manufacturer OEMThe aircraft manufacturer at the top of the supply chain — Meridian Aircraft Co. on this program.
Source InspectionCustomer (OEM) quality representative inspection/witness performed at the supplier's facility, as opposed to at the customer's receiving dock.
Dual-SourcingQualifying a second supplier for a critical material or component to reduce single-source schedule/quality risk — the response approved (D-03) to this program's single-source prepreg risk (R-01).
RAIDDRisks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies, Decisions — a single log tracking all five, structured identically to the PM suite's version but populated with aerospace-specific entries (MRB-linked risks, staffing corrections, dual-sourcing decisions).
RACIResponsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed — a responsibility-assignment matrix, extended in this suite to include the customer's (Meridian's) real acceptance authority over FAI and major MRB dispositions.
Nondestructive Testing NDTInspection methods (ultrasonic, thermography, tap testing) that verify internal part integrity — bond quality, voids, delamination — without damaging the part.
Foreign Object Debris FODAny foreign material (tools, hardware, debris) left in or around a part or work area that could cause damage or contamination — controlled via FOD prevention zones and tool accountability on the shop floor.
8D Corrective ActionAn 8-step structured problem-solving method (Team, Problem Description, Containment, Root Cause, Corrective Action, Implementation, Prevention, Closure) commonly required by aerospace customers for significant nonconformances.
Statistical Process Control SPCUsing control charts and process capability data (Cpk) to monitor a manufacturing process and catch drift before it produces nonconforming parts.