Mechanical Systems Assurance

The Mechanical Systems Assurance (MSA) project evaluates and supports suppliers' special processes in new and mature stages. Special process requirements are defined through different activities that consider NASA Supply Chain Risk Management and enable projects to understand risk. These activities include developing the NASA Special Process Taxonomy, which defines materials, process control, techniques, certification programs, product acceptance, and variables as special process elements; surveying industry standards and valid requirements; and providing resources for the evaluation of special process suppliers. The MSA project also administers Nadcap membership, which manages special process certifications and offers audit advisories, technical documentation and an online Qualified Manufacturers List of accredited suppliers. 

Mechanical Systems Assurance News

  • Filling out a form

    Nadcap Response to COVID-19

    March 11, 2021

    The Nadcap Management Council and the Performance Review Institute updated their response to the COVID-19 pandemic to include Risk Assessment Surveys and Virtual Verification Audits. This update follows Nadcap’s initial response in the spring of 2020.

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  • Close-up of various steel nuts and bolts

    OSMA Releases Fastener Policy Update

    August 03, 2020

    The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) simultaneously renumbered and published an update to NASA-STD-6008, NASA Fastener Procurement, Receiving Inspection, and Storage Practices for Spaceflight. The new document, NASA-STD-8739.14, NASA Fastener Procurement, Receiving Inspection, and Storage Practices for NASA Mission Hardware, is now available for download at standards.nasa.gov. This is the first substantive technical change to the document since its stewardship transferred from the NASA Office of Chief Engineer to OSMA in 2008. The number change aligns with OSMA’s assigned number series for technical standards.

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People

Jeannette Plante

Jeannette Plante

Quality Program Executive

Learn more about Quality Program Executive Jeannette Plante.

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Points of Contact

Points of Contact

For details on contacting a Mechanical Systems Assurance Point of Contact (PoC) for your location, click below.

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Policy and Guidance

NASA

NPD 8730.5 NASA Quality Assurance Program Policy

This directive outlines the requirements for NASA’s Quality Assurance Program.

See NPD 8730.5
NPR 8735.2 Management of Government Quality Assurance Functions for NASA Contracts

This NASA Procedural Requirements outlines the agency’s requirements for performance of government contract Quality Assurance functions as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 46 and Part 12; FAR Supplement Part 1846; and NPD 8730.5, NASA Quality Assurance Program Policy.

See NPR 8735.2

Non-NASA

SAE AS9100 Quality Management Systems  — Requirements for Aviation, Space, and Defense Organizations

This international standard includes specifications for Quality Management Systems.

See SAE AS9100