In the aerospace industry, where safety, quality, and reliability are non‐negotiable, auditors use a suite of tools to verify that an organisation’s Aerospace Quality Management System (AQMS) not only complies with AS9100 requirements but also operates effectively.
One such essential tool is the Process Effectiveness Assessment Report (PEAR).
In this post, we’ll dive into what the PEAR is, how it’s used during audits, and why it’s critical for continual improvement.
What is the PEAR?
The PEAR is a structured document (typically referred to as Form 3 in AS9101 documentation) that auditors use to evaluate the effectiveness of key processes within an organisation’s AQMS.
It captures objective evidence, details process inputs and outputs, and assesses performance against pre established Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
Essentially, the PEAR helps answer two critical questions:
- Process Realisation: The extent to which planned activities are being realised.
- Process Results: The extent to which planned results are achieved.
This evaluation is often supported by a Process Evaluation Matrix (PEM) that assigns numerical scores to each process, thereby helping to reduce subjectivity in the audit assessment.
How and Why is the PEAR Used in AS9100 Audits?
Evaluating Process Effectiveness
During an AS9100 audit, certification body auditors complete a PEAR for every key process identified by the organisation.
The report documents:
- Inputs: The resources, materials, equipment, personnel, and procedures required for the process to function effectively.
- Activities: The tasks, actions, and processes that are carried out using the inputs to achieve the desired outcomes, following established procedures and controls to ensure consistency and quality.
- Outputs: The tangible results produced by the process, such as products, services, or performance metrics, which indicate whether the process is achieving its intended purpose.
The PEAR ultimately helps auditors determine if an organisation’s processes are not only compliant with AS9100 requirements but also effective in producing quality outcomes.
Risk Determination and Continuous Improvement
The scoring mechanism of the PEAR is critical because the auditor’s rating directly influences the overall “Risk Factor” associated with an organisation’s QMS.
For instance:
- A high score (e.g. 5) indicates that the process is fully implemented and the process is delivering the planned results.
- Lower scores signal that planned activities are not fully realised or that results are not meeting targets.
Organisations can use the data from these assessments to focus their internal audits and improvement initiatives on processes that are underperforming.
Implementing and Using the PEAR Internally
While the PEAR is a mandatory document for certification body auditors, many organisations benefit from using an internal version of the report.
By adapting the certification bodies PEAR form for internal audits, companies can:
- Proactively Identify Weaknesses: Regular internal assessments using the PEAR help pinpoint process inefficiencies before they escalate.
- Enhance Data-Driven Decision Making: Collecting objective evidence on process performance supports targeted corrective actions and continual improvement.
- Prepare for Certification Audits: An internal PEAR ensures that an organisation’s processes are consistently aligned with AS9100 requirements, making external audits smoother and more predictable.
Need an Independent Perspective on Your Processes?
Outsourcing your internal audits to experienced professionals ensures an objective, in-depth assessment of your key processes – using the PEAR method to identify weaknesses, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
An external auditor brings fresh insight, eliminating internal bias and ensuring your processes are fully aligned with AS9100 requirements.
By choosing us for your independent Internal Audits, you can:
✅ Identify process inefficiencies before they impact quality.
✅ Strengthen compliance ahead of certification audits.
✅ Free up internal resources while gaining expert analysis.
