First Article Inspection (FAI) for Parts Made in China
First article inspection (FAI) checks initial production parts against agreed requirements to verify the production process. Agree the report, traceability and production hold before ordering. Review measurements, material and finish evidence before authorising further production; FAI does not replace product acceptance or regulatory compliance.
What is first article inspection?
FAI uses inspection of initial production parts to verify that the intended manufacturing process can meet the agreed requirements. Identify the inspected parts, applicable drawing revision and results; do not rely on appearance or photographs alone.
For a general machining order, agree the inspection package in the purchase order. The checklist below is a recommended buyer specification, rather than a claim that every order must follow an aerospace standard.
FAI supports a decision about the production process. It does not establish that every later part will conform, replace ongoing process controls or constitute product acceptance or regulatory approval.
When should you demand FAI?
Consider making FAI a contractual requirement when placing a new part with a supplier, transferring production to another factory, or buying parts whose fit, material or failure consequences justify documented verification. Consider replacement difficulty as well as order quantity.
Agree review triggers for drawing changes, material substitutions, new tooling, changes to machining or finishing, and production restarts where the original evidence may no longer represent the process. Define whether affected characteristics need reinspection or a fresh complete report.
Require parts made using the intended production material, tooling and process route. If the first submission is an early prototype, identify what must be checked again on production-representative parts.
Settle drawing requirements before inspection planning. Use drawings and tolerances to send to China for that preparation.
What should an FAI report contain?
Ask for a package that lets your reviewer trace each requirement to evidence. Agree the inspected quantity, part identification, measurement methods and reporting format before manufacture; there is no universal sample quantity recommended here.
For measurable characteristics, request actual results alongside acceptance limits. A pass statement alone does not show the measured value. For agreed visual or attribute checks, record the method, acceptance criterion and outcome.
| Item | What to request | What the buyer checks |
|---|---|---|
| Part and production identity | Part number, drawing revision, order reference, inspected-part identifiers and manufacturing batch or job reference. | The report describes the parts and production route you are approving. |
| Balloon drawing | An agreed drawing with numbered references covering dimensions, tolerances, notes and other applicable requirements. | Every applicable requirement has a matching result or an explained evidence reference. |
| Measured values | Requirement, limits, actual result, units, inspection method and outcome for each measured characteristic. | Results are directly comparable with the drawing, including geometric tolerances where specified. |
| Material certificates | Certificates identifying the specified material and relevant heat or batch, with a traceable link to the inspected parts. | Grade, condition and any specified test results match the order; a generic material sheet is insufficient. |
| Finish and process certificates | Applicable coating, heat-treatment or other process certificates, plus specified thickness, hardness or other test evidence. | The evidence identifies the required process and relevant batch; appearance alone cannot verify it. |
| Inspection equipment | Identification of the equipment used and appropriate calibration evidence. | The method and equipment are suitable for the feature and tolerance being checked. |
| Exceptions and approval | Missing evidence, nonconformities, corrective actions, reinspection results and named review records. | Open issues are resolved or covered by a specific written concession before production release. |
Does FAI have to follow AS9102?
SAE publishes AS9102C as Aerospace Series — First Article Inspection Requirements, revised on 2023-06-28. Its published scope covers performing and documenting FAI and says its requirements complement customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
AS9102 was developed for aerospace applications and can also be used in other sectors. Do not describe every general machining inspection as AS9102-compliant. Where your customer or contract requires it, specify the required revision and deliverables and have a competent reviewer assess compliance.
A balloon drawing and measurement spreadsheet do not by themselves establish AS9102 compliance. Keep FAI review, disposition of nonconformities and product acceptance distinct; do not assume a concession makes an incomplete FAI complete.
Who inspects the parts, and who approves production?
Ask the supplier to identify who prepares the report and performs each measurement. Agree whether supplier quality personnel will carry out the work or whether you need an independent inspector or measurement laboratory.
Confirm capability before booking. Specify the required dimensional, geometric, material and finish checks, and ask which equipment or laboratory services will be used.
Name the buyer's authorised technical reviewer. For an individual or small business without that expertise, arrange qualified review rather than relying on an unexplained pass stamp.
Use a factory audit to investigate the manufacturing and inspection capabilities relevant to your order. Review evidence for your identified parts separately.
How to approve FAI before mass production
Put a written production hold in the order: define the initial manufacturing quantity allowed, the evidence required and who can release the remaining production. Agree the associated payment milestone and schedule.
On submission, check part identity, drawing revision and completeness first. Review measured results, certificates and exceptions together. Arrange physical fit or functional checks where the specification calls for them.
For a failure, request correction and traceable reinspection. If a deviation is considered for acceptance, obtain authorisation consistent with the applicable contract and requirements. Record the exact characteristic, permitted condition, affected quantity or batch and concession reference. Do not silently change the drawing to match the sample.
Issue a written production release identifying the reviewed report, part revision, unresolved restrictions and production scope. Define product acceptance separately, and state that acknowledging receipt of documents does not count as approval.
Keep an identified reference part where useful and agree change notification. Plan pre-shipment inspection for the finished order separately.
If you sell in the US or EU
US entry — checked 2026-10-18: CBP states that the importer of record remains responsible for accurate entry documentation and applicable duties, taxes and fees even when using a broker. Treat FAI evidence and entry documentation separately.
US tariffs — checked 2026-10-18: USTR publishes China Section 301 tariff actions and exclusion information. Check the measures applicable to your classified product and entry date separately from the FAI review.
US medical-device use — FDA's update dated 2026-02-02 confirms that the Quality Management System Regulation became effective on that date. If your parts are intended for a medical device, ask the responsible device manufacturer to define the applicable supplier and acceptance controls; do not treat FAI as proof of regulatory compliance.
EU — checked 2026-10-18: the European Commission states that CE marking is required only for covered products and must not be affixed to other products. Determine the rules applicable to the supplied part and finished product separately from FAI. CE marking itself is not approval by the EU or another authority.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
UK worked example: keep technical approval and import valuation separate
Consider a buyer importing a machined bracket into Great Britain after reviewing its FAI evidence. Keep the decision to authorise further production separate from product acceptance, customs valuation and import VAT.
HMRC delivery-cost guidance, updated 2026-04-15, requires relevant delivery costs up to the place of introduction to be included in customs value. Its import VAT valuation guidance, updated 2025-09-26, starts from customs value and requires applicable import duties and relevant incidental expenses to be added, including transport to the first UK destination and a further UK destination known at importation.
Keep goods, transport and inspection charges identifiable. Ask your customs representative to confirm the treatment of inspection charges under the actual arrangement and check that amounts already included in customs value are not added again.
How to scope and price inspection support
For Cambridge China Bridge enquiries, send the drawing revision, intended use, order quantity, supplier details, required report and any customer standard. Request written confirmation of who measures, who reviews, what testing is included and what evidence you will receive.
Ask the quotation to state whether factory audits and goods inspections are included, and to identify any separately charged third-party work. Agree the scope and charges before commissioning.
Ask the quotation to identify specialist measurement, laboratory testing, sample transport and reinspection where needed. For the machining quotation itself, see CNC machining cost drivers in China.
Sources
The sources below identify the FAI standard and support the stated market requirements. The checklist and production-release workflow are purchasing recommendations, not a complete AS9102 compliance checklist. Market requirements were checked on 2026-10-18; publication and revision dates are identified separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is approving a sample the same as approving FAI?
No. Review the agreed FAI evidence for identified production-representative parts. Appearance or a successful fit check does not cover every requirement. Keep FAI review, product acceptance and authorisation of further production distinct.
Can I accept a report that only says pass?
Request actual measured values for measurable characteristics, linked to the drawing and acceptance limits. An agreed visual or attribute check can use an outcome supported by its method and criterion.
Do I need AS9102 for ordinary CNC parts?
Check your customer and contract requirements. AS9102 was developed for aerospace and can be used in other sectors. For general machining, agree the inspection package without claiming AS9102 compliance unless that compliance has been established.
Can the Chinese factory inspect its own first articles?
Agree who may inspect under the applicable contract and customer requirements. If supplier inspection is accepted, identify the inspector, methods and equipment, and arrange independent verification where required.
How many first articles should I ask the factory to inspect?
Agree a quantity and selection plan suited to the part, production setup and customer requirements. State how relevant machines, fixtures or production streams will be represented instead of assuming a universal quantity.
What if a dimension fails but I can still use the part?
Have the authorised technical reviewer assess it against the applicable requirements. Any permitted concession should identify the deviation and scope in writing. Do not assume it completes an incomplete FAI; otherwise require correction and reinspection.
Should inspection happen before or after anodising or coating?
Plan checks around the requirements. Identify which characteristics need inspection before finishing and which need verification after the relevant process. Agree both stages where necessary.
Does passing FAI mean I can skip the final inspection?
No. FAI verifies the production process through the initial submission. Continue the agreed production controls and product acceptance checks, including a separate pre-shipment inspection where commissioned.
Sources
- SAE International: AS9102C, Aerospace Series — First Article Inspection Requirements
- CBP: Tips for New Importers and Exporters
- USTR: China Section 301 tariff actions and exclusion process
- FDA: Quality and Compliance, Medical Devices
- European Commission: CE marking
- HMRC: Delivery costs to include in the customs value
- HMRC: Working out the VAT value using the customs value of imported goods
- IAQG: 9102 First Article Inspection Requirement
- IAQG: 9102 changes from Revision B to C