Reliance on Standardized Definitions is Critical for FAI Compliance
Published .
Related
- AS9100
- ISO 9001
Topics
- fai
- definitions
- as9102
- compliance
- training
- quality-planning
- audit-finding
A supplier submitted a First Article Inspection (FAI) package for a complex assembly. During the FAI planning process, the supplier's team operated based on internal or assumed interpretations of terms such as 'design characteristic,' 'sub-assembly,' and 'lapse in production. '
Upon review, the customer rejected the FAI package because it did not align with the formal definitions in the governing aerospace standard. For example, general tolerances from the drawing's title block were not verified as design characteristics, and a required FAI after a production lapse was missed.
Key Takeaways
- The rejected FAI resulted in a production hold and delayed shipment.
- The supplier was required to re-perform significant portions of the inspection, regenerate the FAI forms, and resubmit the package, incurring unplanned costs and impacting the schedule.
- Upon review, the customer rejected the FAI package because it did not align with the formal definitions in the governing aerospace standard.
Common Mistakes
- Missing balloon numbers on the drawing.
- Title block requirements not accounted for on Form 3.
- Drawing notes not captured as characteristics.
Best Practice
Organizations must ensure all personnel base validation activities on the explicit definitions provided in governing standards like AS9102. Referencing the standard's glossary is mandatory to prevent systemic non-conformance and ensure consistent interpretation of requirements between stakeholders.
Reflects the recommended position based on community discussion and expert review.
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