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Public Law 101-592, or the Fastener Quality Act (FQA), becomes effective May 26, 1998. Fasteners manufactured after that date, may not be offered for sale in the United States unless they are part of a lot which has been inspected, tested, and certified by an accredited laboratory in accordance with the FQA and its implementing regulations. Fasteners that are “significantly altered” also require testing in an accredited laboratory. As of this writing, it is estimated that approximately 350 laboratories will be accredited in accordance with the FQA at the time of implementation. At the current pace of application and accreditation, the number of laboratories able to perform testing in compliance with the FQA may result in a significant reduction in the availability of fasteners.

In the plating and coating industry, standardization of processing procedures is not common. Industry experts have relied on experience, and therefore most plating and coating techniques have a certain degree of uniqueness. As industry grows, Aerospace companies require consistency to meet specifications mandated by the government. In order to meet future industry demands, the Plating and Coating Committee of SAE has developed or reviewed over 60 Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS). These user controlled specifications cover Plating, Coating, Anodic Treatment, and Chemical Treatment processes. The quality controls and processes AMS documents consist of the following eight essential parts: 1) Scope; 2) Applicable Documents; 3) Technical Requirements; 4) Quality Assurance; 5) Preparation for Delivery; 6) Acknowledgment; 7) Rejections; and 8) Notes. These eight parts of the AMS plating and coating specifications will be reviewed.