Daiwa Seiko Philippines, manufacturer of automotive and aviation parts and components, has been granted Aerospace Standard 9100 (AS9100D) certification, paving the way for the country’s greater participation in the global value chains and further competitiveness of the local aerospace industry.
The Aerospace Quality Management System (AQMS) Training Program of the Board of Investments (BOI), the lead industry development and investments promotion agency in the Philippines, paved the way for another successful aerospace standard certification of a local industry player.
AS9100D is an industry-specific quality management system standard. The standard is used by companies that provide products and services for the defense, space, and aviation industries.
Established in 1997, Daiwa Seiko has been engaged in the manufacture and assembly of automotive transmission and engine parts for notable car manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Nissan, Isuzu, and Toyota.
Hidemasa Komoto, senior executive vice-president of Daiwa Seiko Philippines Corporation, expressed the company’s sincere gratitude to the BOI and the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines for their unwavering support to the local aerospace industries and expand business opportunities for us.
“Committed to sustaining the company’s goal of stability, excellence, and global competitiveness, we are driven by the fundamental values and principles associated with Aerospace Quality Management and Environmental System, and Health and Safety Standards,” said Komoto.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, who is also BOI chairman, cited the accomplishment despite the challenges posed across industries, including the local aerospace industry. “As the global economy recovers, we can see the Philippines becoming a recognized manufacturer in Asia considering the Philippines’ growing expertise in the manufacture of aerospace and aviation products,” said Lopez.
He noted that the latest growth in the Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 11.8 percent in the second quarter of 2021 as a good start towards economic recovery.
“This remarkable growth is a result of the government’s continuing efforts to safely balance lives and livelihood as we take calculated and calibrated measures to manage the risks that come with reopening the economy,” Lopez said. “The robust performance was sustained as we focused the restrictions on the less essential activities while allowing the rest of the economy, especially the essential and labor-intensive sectors such those in manufacturing and exports to operate, so as to save jobs and income," Lopez added.
Lopez stressed that the certification of Daiwa Seiko increases the country’s participating in the global value chains, and enhances the competitiveness of the local aerospace industry. “This means more quality jobs for Filipinos and more export earnings for the country,” he said.
BOI Executive Director for Industry Development Services Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa said the BOI will continue to provide industry-specific initiatives and programs to further the development and competitiveness of local industries.
“Developing a pool of AS9100-certified parts suppliers is also key to attracting foreign aerospace companies to set up manufacturing operations in the Philippines,” said Dichosa.
She, however, stressed that while the training is intended to provide local companies the skills and guidance leading to AS9100 certification, the actual certification will then be up to the company itself. “With Daiwa Seiko’s recent certification, we are expecting that the other companies that completed the course will soon be certified as well,” said Dichosa.
John Lee, chairman of Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP), cited the role of BOI in ensuring their growth in the supply chain.
“The pandemic will soon end and the demand will soar again. We are grateful and hopeful that programs for suppliers to achieve AS9100 will be supported in the future. We can all “Make it Happen in the Philippines,” said Lee.
BOI’s AQMS Training Program started in 2017. With the aim of capacitating local aerospace industry players to further the growth of businesses into the local aerospace industry, 18 companies and institutions, including Daiwa Seiko, joined the training program. The training program is one of the many initiatives outlined in the Aerospace Industry Roadmap which aims to generate $ 2.57 billion worth of aerospace parts and components exports and for the industry to employ around 15,000 personnel by 2022.
The AQMS Training Program is conducted in partnership with the Metal Industries Research and Development Council (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the AIAP. This is in line with the vision of the Aerospace Industry Roadmap for the country to be a hub for aerospace parts manufacturing and allied services (maintenance, repair, and overhaul-MRO) in Asia.
Composed of five modules namely: (1) AS9100 Rev D Executive Overview for CEOs; (2) AS 9100:2016 Awareness Seminar; (3) Documentation Training; (4) Training on Risk Management in the Aerospace QMS; and (5) Mock Audit, the program aims to develop a local pool of aerospace parts suppliers that are AS9100-certified which could serve the requirements of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the country and for direct exports.
Some 190 industry representatives participated in the different modules of the program.