First Article Inspections: Why Are They Important?
A first article inspection takes place when an authorized individual takes one or more components from the initial production run. This individual is often the supplier or a second-party inspector with a laboratory and specialized measuring equipment. They assess whether the production precisely meets the client's specifications. Early-stage inspection of the first article units guarantees that the engineers or technicians have the necessary knowledge of the customer’s requirements and have incorporated them into their manufacturing processes. Purpose of FAI: The first article inspection procedure has two key functions. The first purpose is to assess and confirm all documented requirements. The second step entails creating the production line's manufacturing Plan of Record, or POR. The manufacturer must continuously reproduce the POR once it has been established. This guarantees that the manufacturer complies…