Incomplete Supply Chain Documentation Halts FAI Approval
Published .
Applicable Standards
AS9102Applicable Sections
- ✓Form 2 — Product Accountability
- ✓Form 3 — Characteristic Accountability
Related
- AS9100
- Nadcap
Topics
- fai
- supply-chain-management
- documentation
- traceability
- special-process
- raw-material
- as9102
A supplier submitted a First Article Inspection (FAI) package for an assembly to their customer for approval. The supplier's internal verification of the final part's characteristics was complete and properly documented on Form 3. However, the submission was placed on hold by the customer's quality review team, delaying production startup.
The FAI package was deemed incomplete because it lacked sufficient objective evidence from the supply chain. Raw material certifications were not traceable to the specific lot used in the part, and special process certifications (e. g.
Key Takeaways
- Final FAI approval was delayed until the supplier could retrieve and re-submit the corrected documentation from its sub-tier sources.
- This reactive effort consumed unplanned resources and postponed the authorization to begin serial production.
- The FAI package was deemed incomplete because it lacked sufficient objective evidence from the supply chain.
Common Mistakes
- The FAI package was deemed incomplete because it lacked sufficient objective evidence from the supply chain.
- Raw material certifications were not traceable to the specific lot used in the part, and special process certifications (e.g., heat treat, plating) did not list the correct engineering specification revision or were missing entirely.
- Missing balloon numbers on the drawing.
- Title block requirements not accounted for on Form 3.
Best Practice
Proactively verify and compile all required supply chain documentation, including material and special process certifications, before assembling and submitting the final FAI package. This ensures all elements of the product's pedigree are fully traceable and conform to the engineering definition as required by AS9102.
Reflects the recommended position based on community discussion and expert review.
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