Safety Management Systems for Design, Manufacturing and Maintenance Providers in Aviation C2215
Topics: Quality, Safety & Maintenance
A Safety Management System (SMS) is a high-level, top-down decision-making system based on proactively identifying, assessing, and controlling hazards and safety risks in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance environments. These systems are designed to prevent accidents and incidents and analyze performance data for continuous improvement. Safety Management Systems have become an internationally recognized means to improve hazard and risk identification, risk management and safety assurance. The SMS approach promotes a proactive and systematic approach to managing safety throughout the lifecycle of an aircraft or system.
The use of an articulated Safety Management System (SMS) is required in European aviation, is a requirement for US Part 21 design & manufacturing organizations and is voluntary for maintenance organizations in the US. These systems are recognized globally by the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and civil aviation authorities (CAA), as well as product/service providers as the next step in the evolution of safety in aviation.
There are two types of safety management systems regulated by the FAA – Aviation Safety SMS and Design & Manufacturing SMS:
- AVS SMS includes Part 121, Part 135, and § 91.147. AVS SMS became regulatory for Part 121 in January 2015, and became regulatory for Part 135 and 91.147 tour operators when the new SMS rulemaking was published in May 2024.
- Design and Manufacturing safety management systems include Part 21 type certificates and production certificate holders, and became regulatory when the new FAA rulemaking was published in May 2024. Part 21 has two primary standards; SM-0001 - Implementing Safety Management System in Design, Manufacturing and Maintenance Organizations, which is an international standard and NAS 9927 - Safety Management System Practices for Design and Manufacturing, which is a US standard.
- SMS implementation is voluntary for Parts 91, 125, 133 137, 141, 142, 145 and 147 organizations. Aviation organizations that seek FAA acknowledgement of their voluntary SMS should develop and implement an SMS that meets Part 5. The FAA will validate SMS implementation as a part of routine surveillance activities.
Learning Objectives
- Describe and discuss basic SMS concepts
- Utilize information provided to explain regulatory SMS requirements
- Differentiate what your organization already does that will help meet SMS requirements and those areas where there are gaps
- Approach company leadership with a solid plan for SMS implementation
- Design and plan for execution of a practical SMS implementation plan
- Build a plan for transferring concepts learned in this course to others in the organization
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for safety professionals in the aerospace design, manufacturing, and maintenance sectors who seek to understand the requirements of SMS, and gain expertise in building an SMS to comply with FAA and other global certificating agencies’ requirements. The specific job roles that will benefit from this course include Safety Executives and Managers, Risk Manager, Quality Manager, Safety Staff, Safety Consultant, Safety Trainer, Human Resources, Participant, Engineer, Systems Engineer., Manufacturing Technician, Safety Researcher, Aerospace Engineer, Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians, and Aviation Maintenance Instructors.
Both new and experienced safety professionals who lead, develop, implement, and/or review the effectiveness of safety systems and are responsible for their organization’s compliance to safety regulating organizations should be trained in these powerful tools.
Other Courses to Support Your Work
We recommend the following courses to extend your learning related to safety management systems and airworthiness certification:
C1701 FAA Part 21 Certification Procedures for Products and Parts
C1707 FAA Certification, Operations, and Maintenance Orientation
You must complete all course contact hours and successfully pass the learning assessment to obtain CEUs.
General Overview of Safety Management Systems Concepts
Knowledge of the Four Pillars
- SMS Overview
- Origins of SMS
- Goals of SMS
- Four Pillars of SMS
- Safety Policy
- Safety Risk Management
- Safety Assurance
- Safety Promotion
Regulatory Agency Requirements
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- NAS 9927
- SM-0001
- AC 21-58
- FAA Voluntary SMS Program Guidance
- Safety Policy Components
- Management Commitment
- Safety Accountability and Responsibilities
- Designation and responsibilities of required safety management personnel
- Coordination of Emergency Response Planning
- System Analysis and Hazard IdentificationSafety Risk Assessment and ControlThe Management of Change
- Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement
- Safety Performance Assessment
- The Management of Change
- Continuous Improvement of the SMS
- Competencies and Training
- Safety Communication
- Notification of Hazards to Interfacing organizations
- Safety Culture
- SMS Documentation
- SMS Records
- Understanding & Means of Compliance with SMS Requirements
- Gap Analysis
- System Description
- Implementation Timelines
- Evaluation Tools
- FAA Voluntary SMS Program
Scott Harris or David McDermott
Scott Harris graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. After working in the Weapons Programs Division at the Department of Energy, he joined Bell Helicopter in 1986, and has enjoyed a 37-year career at Bell spanning numerous programs and assignments. These include the V-22 program, Manager of Research and Development, Program Management, Director of Engineering at Bell India, and finally Manager of Safety Management Systems, where he led the implementation of both an Aviation Safety SMS (AVSSMS) and a Design & Manufacturing SMS (D&M SMS) for the company.
In 2018, under Scott’s leadership, Bell was awarded a Letter of Acceptance from the FAA for their Design & Manufacturing SMS. He served on the D&M SMS industry working group that developed National Aerospace Standard (NAS) 9927 and is currently serving on the industry working group on the present update of SM-0001.
Scott is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and widely considered an SMS expert. Upon retirement from Bell, he began a consulting firm, D&M SMS Consultants, LLC, where he is currently supporting SAE and other organizations in an advisory capacity.
David McDermott graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, the University of Florida with a Master of Mechanical Engineering, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Master of Business Administration. He has worked for 35 years at Pratt & Whitney in various roles involving system safety, reliability engineering, and safety risk analysis. He served as program chief engineer supporting continued airworthiness of thousands of propulsion systems used in a multitude of aircraft types with customers around the world.
Most recently, as a principal fellow of product safety, David has had a leadership role in developing an enhanced Safety Management System (SMS). As a result, Pratt & Whitney is one of a handful of design and manufacturing (D&M) companies that has received a letter of acceptance from the FAA as part of their voluntary SMS initiative.
David is currently supporting an industry D&M SMS Focus Group that is sharing best practices and is currently serving on the industry working group on the present update of the internationally recognized SMS standard for D&M organizations, SM-0001.
