First Article Inspection overview
Before the manufacturing process begins, industry requirements suggest a detailed verification and comparison of product design vs. production result, known as First Article Inspection (FAI). Frequently used in the aerospace, medical device and automotive industries, FAI reports are becoming a standard process to ensure quality and consistency of the final product. Although conducting FAI can be complex, technological advancements and user friendly software’s have allowed users to implement and execute this process quickly and accurately.
What is First Article Inspection?
As an official authentication method for a manufacturing process, FAI reports intent is to review and authorize dimensional reports. FAI reports utilize dimensional properties of a production part in comparison to design specifications, to ensure consistency or discover deviations.This process ensures reliability and repeatability of the manufacturing process, as well as ensuring the manufacturer’s ability to produce parts according to specifications.
FAI reports are developed on all new products that are representative of the first production run.
What is the purpose of FAI?
The purpose of a FAI report include the following:
- The FAI report provides a guideline to provide objective confirmation that all engineering design and specification requirements are correctly understood, accounted for, verified and documented.
- Ensure the production process is reliable, repeatable and consistent
- Develops a clear understanding and communication outlet between buyer and supplier.
- Verify the accuracy of drawings, ensuring that all changes made to part designs are accounted for
- Validate all tooling used to produce a part, ensuring the tools ability to produce parts at certain specifications
- Ensure manufacturing process is capable and can meet the needs of production
lity – used to summarize specific design characteristics.