This guidance is complementary to the requirements of DASR 21 Subpart G - Military Production Organisational Approval, and not supersede nor replace the information defined within it.
Every aircraft requires support from one or more production organisations which have approval to manufacture aircraft parts and appliances in conformity with approved data.
An organisation that has been approved by DASA to provide aircraft production services for a Defence aircraft is termed a Military Production Organisation (MPO). These MPOs may be a Military or Industry organisation, and may receive an approval for the production of aviation Products (aircraft, engine or propeller), Parts and Appliances.
A Military Production Organisation Approval (MPOA) may be awarded by DASA when satisfied that the production organisation complies with the requirements of DASR 21 Subpart G (hence MPOs are sometimes called ‘21G organisations’). The DASR presents eligibility criteria, requirements for the production quality system, terms of approval, candidate privileges (approved at DASA’s discretion), and obligations. It also specifically requires the organisation to establish and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS), in accordance with DASR.SMS.
DASA’s approval of an MPO is reflected on a Form 55 – MPO Approval Certificate, which summarises the terms of that approval, including the Privileges granted in accordance with DASR 21.A.263:
Scope of Work: The type of production activities for which approval is granted, including products and categories of parts and appliances
Location: The location of any production facilities
Privileges: Perform production activities and issue conformity certification, and certification of release to service artefacts in accordance with the privileges granted.
Limitations: Any limitations on the above
DASA does not accept unsolicited applications for MPO approval; rather, evidence must be provided for a Defence capability need. An application for MPO Approval is made via DASA Form 50 - Application For Military Production Organisation Approval.
Per DASR 21.A.143, the primary application artefact is the Production Organisation Exposition (POE), which provides an accurate definition and description of the production organisation. Furthermore, where partner organisations or subcontractors are to be employed, the exposition also includes information on how the production organisation is to ensure those organisations comply with certain DASRs applicable to production activities.
The applicant is required to nominate an Accountable Manager who has corporate authority for ensuring that all production work is carried out to the required standard. The MPO is also required to furnish a statement of the qualifications and experience of the management staff. Dependent on the size of the organisation the applicant shall nominate two or more managers for the roles of Responsible Manager and Quality Manager. Appendix 1 provides further insight into DASA’s expectations for a production organisation exposition.
DASA Approval. DASA’s approval of a new MPO will be based on a desktop assessment of the exposition and supporting procedures. A site visit will be made to perform an initial assessment of the facilities and manufacturing equipment. At this visit meetings will take place with the Form 4 holders nominated by the applicant, at which they will present the organisation, quality system and demonstrate their understanding of the regulatory requirements of DASR 21 Subpart G.
At approximately 12 months post the granting of MPOA, DASA will conduct an onsite oversight activity of the MPO, once the organisation has exercised its privileges and started to mature the elements of its production system. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effectiveness of the SMS.
Where an extant MPO is merely requesting an expansion of its current MPOA the DASA assessment may be proportionately reduced. Applications for MPO changes are made via DASA Form 51 - Application for Significant Changes or Variation of Scope and Terms of DASR 21 Production Organisation Approval.
Interaction and timing. Where Defence decides to engage a new Industry MPO, the Defence contracting organisation should engage with DASA well before a Request for Tender (or similar) is released. DASA will help the contracting organisation explore its contract options and identify essential contract inclusions. DASA may also help the contracting organisation with pre-contract assessments of the prospective MPO.
Prospective MPOs should engage with DASA soon after the formal decision is made for them to take on that role. DASA will educate the prospective MPO on application requirements, and will assign an internal point of contact. In DASA’s experience, the time from first contact to approval of the MPO can vary between three and six months.
Responsibilities of a MPOA holder are presented at DASR 21.A.165. Amongst other things, the MPOA holder is required to:
maintain the production organisation in conformity with the data and procedures approved for the production organisation approval
determine that each completed aircraft conforms to the type design and is in condition for safe operation prior to submitting Statements of Conformity to the Authority
determine that products, parts or appliances are complete and conform to the approved design data and are in condition for safe operation before issuing DASR Form 1 - Authorised Release Certificate.
Once an MPOA is achieved, DASA will commence ongoing MPO compliance assurance, to gain confidence that the MPO remains a professional and effective production organisation. While compliance with DASR is cornerstone to this confidence, DASA will also explore the broader safety outcomes that the MPO is achieving, for example how its SMS interfaces with other related platform SMS.
Routine scheduled oversight visits will occur periodically, nominally every 24 months, however timings may be shortened dependent on information received from various sources indicating possible non-compliance including quality lapses.
DASA’s oversight processes for MPOs are contained in the DASA Instructions, DASA(I) SAPO 01-002, DASA Oversight (On-Site and Remote) and DASA(I) 01-009, DASR Findings. Both are available on the DASA intranet site.