TOBYHANNA, Pa. - A skilled and enthusiastic civilian workforce are the keys to quality management system (QMS) success, according to independent experts.
Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) earned recertification to the Aerospace (AS) 9100/9110 quality standard this week after a lengthy and meticulous conformance audit by an external auditing body. The credential is rare: only 30,000 companies worldwide have earned the AS 9100 designation, while less than 1,100 hold the AS 9110 certification. The continued achievement places the depot on par with private industry expectations and positions it as a leader within the U.S. Army and the Department of War.
An offshoot of the International Organization for Standardization 9001 quality certification, AS 9100 is considered a more rigorous quality standard, requiring more in-depth documentation, tighter traceability, and a preventive action process that fully addresses nonconformances before an initial certification or recertification is granted.
The audit was conducted by representatives from National Quality Assurance (NQA) U.S.A., Inc., an accredited international organization for standardization certification. NQA’s four auditors – Lead Auditor Merlyn O’Hara and his colleagues Andy Bullock, Leann Irvin, and David Nelson – spent more than 100 combined hours on the installation examining Tobyhanna’s application and adherence to AS requirements.
At the conclusion of the audit, they recommended the depot for recertification in the AS 9100/9110 standard, citing the cooperation, technical acumen and knowledge of the depot workforce as a key factor in the audit’s positive outcome.
Irvin made her first visit to Tobyhanna for the audit and said she would be leaving highly impressed by the people, the facilities and the depot’s consistent processes.
“We did not have any hiccups during the audit,” she noted. “The depot workforce truly wants to do a good job, and they have great pride in the work that they do.”
O’Hara agreed.
“No matter where we went, the workforce was well engaged,” he said, adding that he also observed growth across the organization.
“Since our last visit, I can see a lot of improvement. It is clear Tobyhanna has a culture of continuous improvement,” O’Hara remarked.
NQA’s auditors praised the depot’s holistic commitment to managing the QMS, citing an internal surveillance program as a best practice. The Quality Management Directorate, comprised of more than fifty professionals, sustains a year-round quality control/quality management program that bolsters the QMS through weekly quality star points, regular meetings with depot leadership to review AS concerns, and a comprehensive internal audit program. In addition, Quality personnel regularly provide training to qualify depot personnel as auxiliary internal auditors, cultivating a sustainable ecosphere of cross-accountability and knowledge sharing across the enterprise.
Additional best practices identified during the audit include the implementation of efficient and enhanced documentation within the purchasing process as well as workspaces that were clean, well-organized and conducive to sophisticated electronics work.
In their examination, auditors noted just five minor nonconformances as well as several opportunities for growth with regards to consistent labeling of shelf-life on items, documentation control, and the process for recalling monitor/measurement equipment.
Bill Stevens, a Quality Assurance Specialist, highlighted the positive audit results, emphasizing that both internal and external feedback are vital to the evolution and sustainability of a strong quality system.
“Audits of our QMS help ensure that we are always improving our quality processes to ensure the best product for the joint warfighter,” he said. “While the audits did identify opportunities for improvement, they are much smaller in size and scope than when we started out with AS. Team Tobyhanna should be proud that we continue to learn and get better every year.”
Tobyhanna Army Depot Directorate of Quality Management Director Chris Musso said quality is a major part of Tobyhanna’s identity. He credited the depot workforce and leadership for Tobyhanna’s latest certification success and continued tradition of excellence.
“Our commitment to the warfighter is the foundation of everything we do, and this recertification is proof of that promise,” said Musso. “It was earned through the collaborative teamwork and engagement of our outstanding employees, who are empowered and supported every step of the way by our leadership team. This achievement validates that our focus on quality is not just a process, but a fundamental part of our identity.”
A surveillance audit of Tobyhanna’s QMS is planned for early 2027.
Maintaining the AS certification and a conforming QMS is directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035. The plan has four strategic focus areas: Invest in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications and aims to posture the organization for future success.
Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) is designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control. TYAD provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support through depot-level repair, systems integration, software and cyber engineering, and field support. A key enabler of operational readiness for Joint and Allied Forces globally, TYAD leverages new and emerging technologies to further expand the Department of War’s organic capabilities for microelectronics, secure communications infrastructure, uncrewed aircraft systems, Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), and the Army’s Next Generation Combat Systems (NGC2). TYAD’s ability to rapidly surge production, deploy field support teams, and scale for contingency or theater-level operations makes it a vital contributor to strategic readiness and operational reach
Social Sharing