Nadcap is a global, industry-managed accreditation program for critical processes used in aerospace, defense, and space manufacturing. It was created to replace a fragmented audit system in which each manufacturer applied its own requirements, forcing suppliers to undergo multiple audits for the same process.

At its core, Nadcap is built around a single, standardized audit that is accepted by multiple customers. This approach reduces repeated audits while improving consistency, safety, and confidence across the global supply chain. Audit requirements are defined by industry experts and focus on processes that directly affect product safety and performance.

Nadcap is different from management system standards such as AS9100, which assess how an organization manages quality across the business. Nadcap instead focuses on individual manufacturing and testing processes and examines them in much greater technical detail.

The program operates as an industry-managed system. Aerospace, defense, and space manufacturers, known as Subscribers, define audit criteria, review audit results, and make accreditation decisions through technical task groups. The Performance Review Institute (PRI), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1990, manages the operational side of the program, including audit scheduling, auditor qualification, and program oversight.

Nadcap covers more than 20 critical process accreditation areas. These include well-established fields such as heat treating, chemical processing, nondestructive testing, welding, electronics manufacturing, materials testing, and measurement and inspection, along with newer and more specialized aerospace processes. Each process area is overseen by its own task group to ensure requirements remain technically current and globally consistent.

For suppliers, Nadcap accreditation shows that specific processes meet strict, industry-defined expectations and are trusted by multiple customers. Many aerospace and defense companies require Nadcap accreditation as a condition for doing business. Accreditation is not a one-time approval, as suppliers undergo regular audits and ongoing oversight to maintain compliance and drive continuous improvement.

Nadcap is supported by a centralized digital system that manages audits, findings, and accreditation status, helping ensure consistency across the program.

For more information, visit the official Nadcap program page from the Performance Review Institute (PRI).