AiVibeFirst Article Inspection (FAI)
First article inspection is a complete, documented verification that the first part made by a new or changed production process meets every requirement of the drawing and specification before production continues.
In an FAI, every characteristic on the drawing, including dimensions, tolerances, notes, material, finishes and special processes, is identified, usually by ballooning the drawing, and then measured or verified, with results recorded against each requirement. Measurements typically come from coordinate measuring machines, gauges and test reports, and supporting evidence covers raw material certificates and special process approvals.
FAI demonstrates that the process, program, tooling and documentation can produce a conforming part. It is standard practice in aerospace, where SAE AS9102 defines first article inspection requirements and the forms for part number, product and characteristic accountability, and similar first-off approvals are used across machining for new jobs, new programs and process changes.
Triggers commonly include a new part number, a design change, a change in manufacturing process, location, or significant tooling, and a long lapse in production; a partial or delta FAI may cover only affected characteristics. An FAI proves the process once and does not replace ongoing process control. Records must be traceable to the specific part, program revision and drawing revision inspected.
Key points
- Verifies every drawing characteristic on the first production part
- Uses ballooned drawings, measurement results and material evidence
- SAE AS9102 defines FAI requirements for aerospace
- Repeated, fully or partially, after design or process changes
Where AiVibe comes in
AiVibe designs and manufactures the AiAmbA AI Factory: edge devices plus AI agents that let people talk to CNC, PLC and robot controllers in plain language. Agents only propose changes, and a trained operator confirms each one.
Related terms
- Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)CNC & Precision Machining
- Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)CNC & Precision Machining
- CNC Program Verification and SimulationCNC & Precision Machining
- Dimensional ToleranceCNC & Precision Machining
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)Industry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations