Drawing & revision
Your review: Model, drawing revision, specifications and notes.
Your benefit: A shared baseline for inspection.
QUALITY SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROJECT
Approve Your Part
Before You Scale Production.
Connect your drawing, critical dimensions, material records and approval criteria before repeat orders. Agree the inspection and documentation scope for your part instead of assuming one package fits every program.
Send Your Drawing & Quality Requirements →Your drawings stay confidential. NDA available on request.
FAI / PPAP OVERVIEW
Build Your Approval Plan Around What Your Project Requires
Start with the controlled drawing and your customer requirements. Identify the characteristics to check, the records to provide and who can approve release.
- Confirm the approved drawing and revision
- Identify critical-to-quality and functional dimensions
- Agree inspection method and sample quantity
- Define material and finish records
- Record approval criteria and required sign-off
- Keep reports connected to the inspected part
6 Items to Align Before Your Part Approval
Resolve the information gaps that can delay your next build.
Critical dimensions / CTQs
Your review: Functional features, datums, tolerances and measurement access.
Your benefit: A defined list of checks and acceptance limits.
Material & finish
Your review: Grade, condition, coating and required records.
Your benefit: An agreed record scope tied to your order.
Process readiness
Your review: Manufacturing route, tooling assumptions and changes from your prototype.
Your benefit: Open process questions resolved before release.
Inspection evidence
Your review: Characteristics, sample quantity, method and report format.
Your benefit: Results that can be compared with your criteria.
Release criteria
Your review: Approval owner, deviation handling and required sign-off.
Your benefit: A clear decision before repeat production.
Choose the Approval Scope Your Project Needs
Compare 4 review routes. Confirm the deliverables before ordering.
First Article Inspection for Your Approved Revision
- Use when a new or revised part needs a defined first-build check
- Agree drawing characteristics, sample identification and report format
- Connect each result to the inspected revision
Your benefit: review the first article before committing to repeat production.
FAI alone does not prove every functional or process requirement.
| Item | FAI | PPAP |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Defined first-article characteristics | Customer-required product and process evidence |
| Documents | Agreed first-article results | Submission artifacts and level agreed with your customer |
| Approval | Against agreed part criteria | Customer-specific submission and approval rules |
| Scope | Part and inspected revision | Product, process and supporting records as required |
Dimensional Results for Your Drawing
- Define which drawing characteristics are in scope
- Agree measurement methods and acceptance limits
- Identify characteristics that need another verification method
Your benefit: compare measured results with a controlled specification.
A dimensional report is not a complete PPAP submission.
| Item | FAI | PPAP |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Defined first-article characteristics | Customer-required product and process evidence |
| Documents | Agreed first-article results | Submission artifacts and level agreed with your customer |
| Approval | Against agreed part criteria | Customer-specific submission and approval rules |
| Scope | Part and inspected revision | Product, process and supporting records as required |
Customer-Specific PPAP Scope for Your Program
- Provide the applicable customer manual, submission level and format
- Agree required artifacts, responsibilities and timing before the order
- Confirm which records are available and which need additional work
Your benefit: uncover missing documentation before a submission deadline.
Customer acceptance and submission approval remain customer decisions.
| Item | FAI | PPAP |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Defined first-article characteristics | Customer-required product and process evidence |
| Documents | Agreed first-article results | Submission artifacts and level agreed with your customer |
| Approval | Against agreed part criteria | Customer-specific submission and approval rules |
| Scope | Part and inspected revision | Product, process and supporting records as required |
A Quality Plan Matched to Your Part
- Define critical characteristics and functional checks
- Specify reporting, traceability and any required tests
- Record review owners and release conditions
Your benefit: request evidence that answers your actual risks.
Availability, cost and timing must be agreed for the project.
| Item | FAI | PPAP |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Defined first-article characteristics | Customer-required product and process evidence |
| Documents | Agreed first-article results | Submission artifacts and level agreed with your customer |
| Approval | Against agreed part criteria | Customer-specific submission and approval rules |
| Scope | Part and inspected revision | Product, process and supporting records as required |
6 Gaps That Can Delay Your Approval
Wrong revision
For your review: Confirm the revision on the part, drawing and report.
Unclear CTQs
For your review: Name the functional features and acceptable limits.
Missing material evidence
For your review: Agree the grade, record type and traceability scope.
Method not agreed
For your review: Resolve measurement access, datums and method before inspection.
Prototype process differs
For your review: Record material, tooling and process differences from production.
Release owner unclear
For your review: Define who reviews results and handles deviations.
Your Approval Workflow in 6 Decisions
Keep the decision, owner and evidence visible at each stage.
Confirm revision
Lock the drawing, material and applicable specifications.
Define the inspection plan
Agree characteristics, methods, quantity and acceptance criteria.
Identify the first article
Link the sample to your intended process and revision.
Inspect & record
Record agreed checks and retain the required evidence.
Review deviations
Identify issues and confirm disposition or corrective work.
Approve repeat-build inputs
Release the agreed revision, process and inspection requirements.
8 Artifact Types to Confirm for Your PPAP Scope
This is a discussion checklist, not a promise of every artifact or any PPAP level. Your customer requirements determine the agreed package.
Dimensional results / FAI
Agreed measurements and first-article records.
Process flow
The required manufacturing sequence when in scope.
PFMEA
Discuss availability and ownership if your customer requires it.
Control plan
Agree process and inspection controls when required.
Material certificates
Requested MTR, COA or equivalent records as agreed.
Measurement / capability data
Define study requirements and feasibility for your program.
Sample parts / retained samples
Agree identification, quantity and retention responsibility.
PSW / customer record
Use the required submission format and approval owner.
INSPECTION & QUALITY EVIDENCE
Connect Your Report to the Part You Approve
A useful report identifies the revision, sample, characteristic, method, requirement and result. Agree which fields and supporting records your program needs.
Revision control
Identify the drawing represented by the inspected build.
Sample identification
Connect your results to the checked sample or lot.
Acceptance limits
Show the required limits for the agreed characteristics.
Deviations & disposition
Record unresolved issues before a release decision.
Match Your Approval Checks to the Manufacturing Process
CNC Machining →
Bores, fits, datums, threads and surface requirements.
Injection Molding →
First molded dimensions, material, tooling and process assumptions.
Die Casting →
Agreed casting and machined features, appearance and material requirements.
Sheet Metal Fabrication →
Bend geometry, hole locations, assembly and finish.
What Your Approval Record Set Can Include
6 record types to discuss before your build. These are document descriptions, not issued certificates or sample customer records.
First Article Inspection Report
Part number, approved revision, sample identification, results and deviations against your agreed scope.
Dimensional Inspection Results
Characteristics, drawing references, methods and results for the features you request.
Material Record / MTR / COA
Material identity and the supplier evidence required by your order, where available and agreed.
Certificate of Conformance
Your required part, revision, order and conformance statement, with agreed release authorization.
Revision / Lot Traceability
A defined link between the delivered lot, inspected samples and the approved manufacturing inputs.
Customer-Specific PPAP Package
Your requested level, forms and submission scope confirmed before the build; contents vary by program.
From First Article to Your Repeat Order
First article
Inspect the identified sample against agreed checks.
Review / correction
Resolve findings and document the approved disposition.
Production release
Confirm approved inputs and remaining conditions.
Repeat order
Use the controlled revision and review changes before rebuilding.
3 Input Groups for a More Complete Quality Review
Drawing & revision
- Controlled PDF and available CAD
- Latest revision and applicable notes
- CTQs, datums and functional requirements
Approval requirements
- Required FAI / PPAP format
- Customer manual and submission level, if applicable
- Report scope, sign-off and required evidence
Material, quantity & application
- Requested material and finish
- Sample and production quantities
- Application, target timing and repeat demand
Your FAI / PPAP Questions
Do I need FAI or PPAP?
Start with your customer requirements. FAI checks agreed first-article characteristics; PPAP may require additional product and process records. Confirm the scope before placing the order.
Can I use my customer’s template?
Provide the template and applicable instructions for review. Confirm required fields, data availability and responsibility before the build.
Can an inspection report prove every functional requirement?
No. Dimensional measurements alone may not demonstrate performance, material behavior or durability. Specify any additional tests your application needs.
Is AS9102 or a specific PPAP level included?
Do not assume either is included. Provide the applicable requirement so scope, capability, records and approval responsibilities can be confirmed.
What if the first article does not pass?
Document the deviation, confirm the disposition and agree corrective work or reinspection before production release.
What changes require another review?
Review changes to drawing, material, process, tooling or other customer-controlled inputs against the applicable requirements before repeating production.
Illustrative inspection concepts are not actual customer parts, completed quality reports or evidence of a certification.
