A launch needs an owner for the launch as well as owners for each piece of it. Agree this table with your plant manager before you start; in small shops one person often holds two roles, which is fine as long as the inspector and the package reviewer are not the same person.
| Role | Owns | Does | Decides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant manager or program owner | The launch | Chairs the readiness review; clears blocks; signs the decision | Go, Go with conditions, or No go |
| Quality engineer | The first article and the inspection plan | Screens triggers, balloons the drawing, plans inspection, reviews the package | First article scope; whether the package is ready to sign |
| Manufacturing engineer | The process | Routing, programs, fixtures, tooling, process risk review, control plan | How the part is made |
| Planner | The traveler and the schedule | Writes the traveler; books machines and outside processes | Sequence and dates, with engineering |
| Inspector | The measurements | First pieces, the first article measurements, the CMM programs' first runs | Whether a setup is released; pass or fail on each characteristic |
| Supplier quality engineer | Purchased material and services | Approves sources, flows requirements down, confirms customer approval of special process sources | Whether a source can be used |
| Setup machinist and operators | The setup and the run | Setup checks; make the first piece; follow the traveler | When to stop and call for help |
| Quality manager | The system | Runs the weekly launch review, watches the measures, escalates | Escalation; who reviews packages |
Who leads each stage
| Stage | Leads | Takes part | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order review and triggers | Quality engineer | Program owner, planner | Quality engineer (scope) |
| Inspection planning | Quality engineer | Manufacturing engineer, inspector | Quality manager (plan approval) |
| Process build and traveler | Manufacturing engineer | Planner, toolroom, programmer | Manufacturing engineer; quality (traveler release) |
| Readiness review | Plant manager | Everyone with a rated line | Plant manager, operations, quality |
| First piece | Setup machinist | Inspector | Inspector (release) |
| First article | Inspector | Quality engineer, manufacturing engineer for any NCR | Inspector |
| Package review and submission | Quality engineer (not the inspector) | Supplier quality for certificates | Reviewer; approver |
Need more than one resource, or not sure where to start? Book a complimentary 30-minute Aegis Quality Guidance Call. We'll find the tools that fit your situation and a sensible place to start. No sales pressure, no obligation.
A management aid, not certification or a registrar audit. Using it does not by itself show conformity to AS9100D or any other standard, and your customers' requirements may add to it.
Clause numbers refer to AS9100D (SAE AS9100 Rev D) unless another document is named. The standards' text is not reproduced here: use your own licensed copy.
Aegis Insights are our own guidance, labeled wherever they appear: how we approach this work, not a requirement of any standard or customer.