Portuguese Event outlines the Portuguese CoVE and NADCAP Accreditation System

The first national AILEEN CoVE event in Portugal officially took place on May 22, hosted by co-organizers FAN3D and ISQ at the ISQ facilities in Taguspark, Oeiras. Bringing together 30 key representatives from aerospace manufacturing, additive manufacturing suppliers, and quality-critical industries, the session delivered a focused deep-dive into the prestigious NADCAP accreditation system.

Adelaide Almeida (EWF) presented the project's progress, highlighting the key achievements of the Portuguese CoVE. Key milestones include hosting and participating in Skills Competitions, executing Staff Mobilities, advancing Applied Research Implementation, and recently launching specialized Additive Manufacturing (AM) courses for Aerospace & Defence.
The event counted with the special participation of Richard Freeman from the Performance Review Institute (PRI), which shared the roadmap for navigating NADCAP certifications. With strict special process requirements expanding across aerospace and defence supply chains, Portuguese companies gained vital insights into:

• Understanding audit models and compliance standards for critical manufacturing processes.
• Why leading global aerospace OEMs increasingly mandate NADCAP accreditation.
• Practical steps to prepare organizations for audit, and how the AILEEN Portuguese CoVE directly supports companies along their journey.

Finally, the event included a guided technical visit to the ISQ Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, thus demonstrating how advanced manufacturing, non-destructive testing, and quality control integrate seamlessly to meet rigorous aerospace standards—giving participants a first-hand view of NADCAP requirements in an active industrial environment.