PECAL CONSULTING
PECAL NATO Quality Assurance Publication (AQAP)
PECAL (Spanish Quality Publication), the national equivalent of NATO's AQAP (Allied Quality Assurance Publications) standards, establishes the quality assurance requirements that must be met by suppliers of products, systems, or services intended for the Armed Forces or contracts under NATO regulation. These publications are based on the ISO 9001 standard, but incorporate additional requirements specific to the military, related to security, traceability, technical documentation, and product life cycle control.
The most common PECALs include:
PECAL 2110: NATO requirements for quality assurance in design, development, and production.
PECAL 2210: NATO requirements for quality assurance in production.
PECAL 2310: NATO requirements for quality assurance in services.
Main requirements of the PECAL/AQAP standard
PECAL/AQAP integrates the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 with additional requirements, including:
- Establishment of a specific contractual quality plan.
- Product risk management from a defense perspective.
- Prior approval by military or defense authorities.
- Comprehensive document control and full traceability of the product or service.
- Active participation of the government quality authority (GQA) during audits.
- Formal review of the contract with a focus on specific military requirements.
- Implementation of controls throughout the supply chain, including subcontractors.
Practical measures to comply with the PECAL standard
- Adapt the ISO 9001 quality management system to comply with PECAL/AQAP requirements.
- Appoint a quality manager with experience in military contracts.
- Develop a Quality Assurance Plan in accordance with the corresponding PECAL.
- Implement specific traceability systems and detailed technical documentation.
- Train staff in PECAL requirements, document control, and information security.
- Establish fluid communication channels with the client organization (Department of Defense, NATO, etc.).
Advantages of complying with PECAL requirements
For the organization:
- Access to tenders and contracts with national and international defense agencies.
- Strengthened reputation in sectors with high technical demands.
- Greater control and risk reduction during production and delivery.
For customers:
- Guarantee that products or services meet demanding quality and safety standards.
- Ensuring contractual compliance in critical environments.
For the market:
- Overall improvement in quality standards in the defense industry.
- Promotion of interoperability between suppliers from different NATO member countries.
PECAL: Application by sectors and industries
Defense consultants
Aerospace and defense
Military manufacturers
Technology and electronics
Maintenance and logistics
Subcontractors in the sector
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