National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP)

Nadcap is "an industry-managed method to conformity assessment", that brings together technical experts from government and industry to develop accreditation requirements, award accreditation to suppliers, and define operational program needs. Nadcap allows suppliers to acquire better controls on particular processes, while also giving industry members a voice in developing audit requirements. Nadcap also provides networking and market recognition chances.

In the aircraft sector, Nadcap accreditation is synonymous with excellence. Specific processes (described in the Nadcap Auditing section) used by aerospace suppliers, such as chemical processes and coatings, are accredited at the company level. The accreditation program is well-regarded; it is driven by the industry and employs certified, experienced industry specialists, to conduct process audits based on agreed-upon criteria unique to the process under evaluation.