Last Updated on November 6, 2022 by Ossian Muscad
Inspection is an important part of quality control in any manufacturing process. A first article inspection (FAI) is a specific type of inspection used to ensure a product’s quality before it goes into full production. To take advantage of this type of inspection, you first need to understand what a first-article inspection report is and how it can benefit your manufacturing process.
This guide will discuss FAIs and how they can help you prevent costly production delays. We’ll also provide tips on completing an FAI form and reporting correctly.
What is a First Article Inspection?
A first article inspection, or FAI, inspects a product’s design and quality before it goes into full production. This type of inspection is important because it can help identify potential issues with the product’s design or manufacture. Finding these issues early can avoid costly delays hindering your overall business operations.
FAI is a requirement by the 9012 standards by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and published via the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Through this standard, businesses in the aerospace industry must establish and maintain an FAI program. An FAI program aims to ensure that products meet all requirements before they go into full production.
Is an FAI the Same Thing as an IQC?
No, a first article inspection is not the same as an initial quality control (IQC) inspection. An IQC inspection is typically used to inspect products that have already been produced. This inspection is important for catching any issues that may have arisen during the manufacturing process.
In addition, an IQC inspection is usually conducted on a small sampling of products. On the other hand, an FAI inspection is conducted on 100% of the products in a production batch. This allows for a more thorough assessment of the product’s quality and helps to identify any potential issues that could cause problems down the line.
Benefits of Conducting an FAI
Several benefits come with conducting an FAI on your products. First, it helps to ensure that the product meets all quality requirements before it goes into full production. This can save you time and money by preventing costly delays further down the road.
In addition, an FAI can also help you to improve your manufacturing process. By identifying any potential issues early on, you can make the necessary changes to your process to ensure that these issues don’t occur in future production batches. This can lead to a more efficient and effective manufacturing process overall.
Finally, an FAI can also help to build trust with your customers. By showing them that you’re taking the necessary steps to ensure the quality of your products, you can instill confidence in them that your products are safe and reliable. This can go a long way in building long-term relationships with your customers.
How to Complete an FAI Form
Now that we’ve gone over what an FAI is and how it can benefit your business let’s take a look at how to complete an FAI form. Four main sections need to be completed to have a complete and accurate form:
Identification Information
This section includes basic information about the product being inspected, such as the name, model number, and serial number. This information is important for identifying the product in question and helps to ensure that the right product is being inspected.
Inspection Objectives
In this section, you’ll need to list the objectives of the inspection. This includes identifying potential issues with the product’s design or manufacture. It’s important to be as specific as possible in this section so that you can accurately assess the product later on.
Inspection Procedures
This section outlines the procedures that will be used during the inspection. This includes what type of inspection will be conducted and how many products will be inspected. It’s important to be as detailed as possible in this section so that you can ensure that the inspection is conducted properly.
Results
Finally, the results section is where you’ll record the inspection findings. This includes things like whether or not the product meets all quality requirements. Again, it’s important to be as detailed as possible in this section so that you can identify any potential issues and make the necessary changes to your process.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your FAI form is complete and accurate. This will help ensure that the inspection is conducted properly and any potential issues are identified.
Create FAI Report Forms with DATAMYTE
To help streamline your FAI reporting duties, it’s important to have a software solution in place that can help. DATAMYTE and its Digital Clipboard are the perfect solutions for your FAI needs. With this software, you can create digital FAI forms that you can use to record all of the necessary information. You can also use the software to create reports you can share with your team or customers.
The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a workflow automation software that features a smart form builder. With this tool, you can create complete FAI report forms that can be used to collect all of the necessary data. You can also use the software to create reports you can share with your team or customers.
With the DataMyte Digital Clipboard, you have an all-in-one solution to your FAI needs. With this software, you can easily create complete FAI report forms and reports. Book a demo now to learn more about how the DataMyte Digital Clipboard can help streamline your FAI process!
Conclusion
A first article inspection (FAI) report is an important tool for ensuring the quality of your products. It helps to identify any potential issues with the product’s design or manufacture so that they can be addressed before the product goes into full production. A first article inspection (FAI) report can also help improve your relationships with your customers by ensuring they receive a quality product.
