Ensuring compliance with material testing standards is essential for achieving accurate, repeatable, and industry-approved results. At NextGen Material Testing, we provide high-precision testing equipment and facilitate certification services for both our products and third-party devices, ensuring full compliance with NADCAP, ISO, ASTM, and other regulatory standards.
Moreover, at NextGen Material Testing, we work with trusted accreditation partners to help laboratories and manufacturers meet ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements for calibration and testing competence. For organizations requiring compliance with ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994, we offer certification assistance to ensure that calibration procedures meet the stringent requirements for measurement accuracy and traceability.
NADCAP
The National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) is an industry-managed certification designed to ensure high standards in the aviation, space, and defense sectors. Established in 1990 and administered by the Performance Review Institute (PRI), NADCAP creates a standardized approach to auditing and accreditation, reducing redundant supplier assessments while improving overall quality. By bringing together technical experts, suppliers, and OEMs, NADCAP defines strict audit criteria that streamline compliance, enhance safety, and reduce costs for manufacturers across the aerospace and defense supply chain.
Why NADCAP Accreditation Matters
NADCAP accreditation is a mark of excellence in aerospace and defense manufacturing. Companies that achieve NADCAP compliance demonstrate their commitment to:
- Quality Assurance – Meeting the strictest industry standards
- Process Standardization – Reducing variability in manufacturing.
- Operational Efficiency – Eliminating redundant audits, saving time and costs.
- Global Recognition – Boosting credibility with aerospace and defense leaders.
- Increased Business Opportunities – Positioning suppliers for contracts with top-tier OEMs.
According to the Performance Review Institute’s Supplier Satisfaction Survey, over 90% of responders believe NADCAP accreditation has added value to their organization.
The NADCAP Audit Process
NADCAP certification follows a structured process to ensure compliance with industry-specific manufacturing standards:
1. Registration & Scheduling
- Suppliers register on PRI’s eAuditNet platform.
- Audits are scheduled 6-9 months in advance to allow preparation.
2. Pre-Audit Preparation
- Suppliers conduct a self-audit based on NADCAP’s official audit criteria.
- Process improvements and corrections are made before the formal audit.
3. On-Site Audit
- An industry-approved auditor evaluates the supplier’s processes.
- Daily reviews highlight findings, and a final report is prepared.
4. Compliance Review
- Suppliers address non-conformances, with guidance from PRI’s technical staff.
- A final audit report is reviewed by NADCAP Task Groups, which include experts from major aerospace and defense companies.
5. Accreditation & Reassessment
- If compliance is met, NADCAP certification is granted.
- Ongoing audits and reevaluations ensure continued adherence to standards.
Which Processes Require NADCAP Certification?
NADCAP accreditation covers a wide range of critical aerospace and defense manufacturing processes, including:
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Heat Treating
- Materials Testing Laboratories
- Welding
- Coatings & Surface Enhancement
- Chemical Processing
- Additive Manufacturing
- Electronics & Fluid Distribution Systems
Benefits of NADCAP Accreditation for Suppliers
Only the most qualified suppliers achieve NADCAP certification. By obtaining accreditation, companies gain:
- Stronger Customer Relationships – OEMs recognize NADCAP as a sign of trust and quality.
- Fewer Redundant Audits – One NADCAP audit replaces multiple individual customer audits.
- Reduced Defect Rates – Studies show NADCAP-certified suppliers experience fewer manufacturing defects.
- Competitive Advantage – Many aerospace and defense contracts require NADCAP certification.
- New Business Opportunities – Access to global markets and high-profile contracts.
How NextGen Material Testing Helps You Get NADCAP Ready
Achieving NADCAP accreditation requires rigorous and consistent testing to meet strict industry standards. NextGen Material Testing provides Universal Testing Machines engineered for tensile, compression, and bending tests in aerospace and defense applications—all in compliance with NADCAP requirements. Contact us today to request a detailed quotation for a system designed to secure your NADCAP certification
NADCAP Certified-ready products:
NG-EML Floor Standing – Universal Testing Machine (50kN-600kN)
NextGen provides a specialized NADCAP-compliant alignment device that ensures optimal coaxiality of ≤ 5%, meeting ASTM E1012 and NASM 1312B standards. This precision alignment reduces testing variability, helping laboratories meet NADCAP audit requirements with confidence.
Key Features of Our NADCAP-Ready Testing System:
- Precision Alignment: Reduces misalignment errors for superior test accuracy.
- Versatile Application: Designed for tensile, compression, and bending tests.
- Reliable Results: Ensures consistent and repeatable performance for compliance.
With this universal testing machine precision upgrade, your lab will be NADCAP ready, ensuring compliance, quality, and industry leadership.
For more information on NADCAP compliance and how NextGen Material Testing can support your accreditation journey, contact us today.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017
This standard ensures that testing and calibration laboratories demonstrate technical proficiency, traceability, and reliable measurement uncertainty calculations. We facilitate ISO 17025-compliant calibration and certification services for tensile testing machines, force measurement systems, extensometers, and alignment verification tools, whether purchased from us or third-party suppliers. Our supplied accreditation details include ISO 17025 credentials, ensuring full traceability and regulatory compliance, mirroring the industry-standard scope of accredited laboratories such as Cal-Rite (valid until October 31, 2026).
ASTM E83 & ISO 9513 standards for Extensometers/COD Gage/Deflectometers
If you test extensometers, COD gages, or deflectometers and require compliance with ASTM E83 or ISO 9513 standards, we can facilitate the certification process not only for the equipment you purchase from us but also for third-party instruments. Our expertise ensures that all your testing devices meet the accuracy and calibration requirements set by these standards, helping your facility achieve seamless compliance and accreditation for high-precision material testing applications.
ASTM E1951 for Microscopes / Vision Systems
If you use microscopes or vision systems for material testing and need compliance with ASTM E1951, we can assist in obtaining certification not only for the high-precision equipment you purchase from us but also for third-party instruments. ASTM E1951 sets the standard for calibrating and verifying the accuracy of optical and imaging systems, ensuring reliable measurement and analysis in metallography, failure analysis, and quality control applications. With our expertise, we help your laboratory meet strict industry requirements, ensuring that your vision-based inspection systems deliver repeatable, high-accuracy results while maintaining full compliance with ASTM E1951 and other regulatory standards.
Additel 222A for Electrical Simulation of Thermocouple Indicating Devices
If you require electrical simulation for thermocouple indicating devices and need compliance with Additel 222A calibration standards, we can facilitate the certification process not only for the equipment you purchase from us but also for third-party instruments. The Additel 222A is essential for accurate temperature simulation and verification, ensuring that thermocouple-based measurement systems meet precision requirements for industrial and laboratory applications. With our expertise, we help you achieve full compliance with industry standards, ensuring accurate, repeatable, and traceable 
calibration for quality control, aerospace, and Additel 222A testing environments.
ASTM E4 & ISO 7500-1
If you use force measurement equipment and require compliance with ASTM E4 (Class A) or ISO 7500-1 (Class 0.5 or 1), NextGen Material Testing can facilitate the certification process for both our equipment and third-party instruments. These standards establish strict accuracy requirements for force verification, ensuring that your universal testing machines (UTMs), load cells, and force measurement devices meet rigorous calibration and performance criteria. With our expertise and ISO accredited partners, we help your facility achieve full compliance with NADCAP, ISO, and ASTM regulations, guaranteeing precise, repeatable, and accredited force measurement capabilities across metallurgical, aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
ASTM E1012, ASTM E2309 &ASTM E2658
If you require alignment calibration, displacement measurement, or verification tools for material testing systems, we can assist in obtaining certification not only for the equipment you purchase from us but also for third-party instruments.
- ASTM E1012 ensures precise alignment calibration for testing frames, reducing measurement errors in tensile, compression, and fatigue testing.
- ASTM E2309 covers digital indicator calibration for cable extension transducers, ensuring accurate displacement measurements in test frames.
- ASTM E2658 applies to cable extension transducers with stopwatch verification, ensuring traceable measurement accuracy for displacement tracking.
- Calibrated extensometers within ASTM Class B1 range and Class A stopwatches provide high-precision strain measurement, essential for tensile and elongation testing.
- Load cells calibrated to Class A standards, combined with stopwatches, ensure accurate force measurement in compliance with NADCAP and global testing standards.
- Feeler gauges and straight edges play a vital role in verifying test frame alignment, ensuring mechanical integrity and precision in material testing applications.
With our expertise, we help your laboratory achieve full compliance with ASTM, ISO, and NADCAP accreditation requirements, ensuring precision, repeatability, and regulatory compliance for force measurement, alignment calibration, and extensometry applications.
Indirect verification per ASTM E18 for Hardness Testers Rockwell
If you use Rockwell hardness testers and require indirect verification per ASTM E18, we can facilitate certification not only for the equipment you purchase from us but also for third-party instruments. ASTM E18 establishes the requirements for calibrating and verifying Rockwell hardness testers through indirect verification, ensuring that your system delivers accurate, repeatable, and traceable hardness measurements.
This process involves testing certified reference blocks to assess the tester’s performance, repeatability, and error limits, guaranteeing compliance with NADCAP and industry regulations. With our expertise, we help your facility achieve full ASTM E18 compliance, ensuring your Rockwell hardness testing process meets the highest standards for quality control, material validation, and industrial applications.