Before a shop runs 500 of your parts, they run one. That first part gets measured, documented, and compared against every dimension on your drawing. This is First Article Inspection — and it's the most important quality checkpoint in the entire manufacturing process.
What Happens During FAI
The shop machines the first part using the same setup, tooling, and program that will be used for the full production run. Then every dimension on the drawing gets measured and recorded. Not a sample — every single one.
This creates a complete snapshot of the process capability. If something is out of spec, it gets caught and corrected before any more parts are made. If everything checks out, the shop has a verified baseline for the entire run.
What You'll Receive
Why FAI Matters
- ▸ Catches problems early — before you've paid for 500 bad parts
- ▸ Validates the process — proves the setup can hold tolerances
- ▸ Creates a baseline — future runs can be compared against the FAI
- ▸ Builds confidence — you know exactly what you're getting before committing
- ▸ Required by many industries — aerospace (AS9102), medical, and defense all mandate FAI
What to Do When You Get the FAI
Review the report carefully. Look for dimensions that are in-spec but close to the limit — these might drift during a long production run. Check that critical features have comfortable margin. If something doesn't look right, now is the time to discuss it.
Once you approve the first article, the shop proceeds with the full run using the same setup. Any changes after approval may require a new first article — so take the review seriously.
Our Process
At Reliable Manufacturing, first article inspection is standard on every new part and every revision change. We use our Keyence Optical CMM and CNC optical comparator to measure features with documented accuracy. You get the report, the ballooned drawing, and the part — and we don't run production until you say go.