First Article Inspection
Glossary · Inspection & Quality
At a glance
- Category /
- Inspection & Quality
- Also called /
- FAI, first article
- Related /
- 3 terms
- Source /
- Written in the shop
A first article inspection is a full dimensional check of the first part off a new setup, verified against every dimension on the drawing before the rest of the run is made.
Also called: FAI · first article
In practice
The part is measured feature by feature and the results recorded on a report tied to the drawing revision. Only once it is accepted does production continue.
Why it matters
The whole purpose is to find a setup error at one part instead of at five hundred. Skipping the first article to save an hour is how a shop scraps an entire run of material.
More in Inspection & Quality
Have a drawing with this on it?
Request a Quote
Send it over and we will tell you what it will take to hold — and what is safe to loosen.