characteristic ID

A characteristic ID is a unique identifier assigned to a specific inspection or design characteristic so that it can be referenced consistently across drawings, inspection plans, CMM programs, quality records, and reporting forms.

What a characteristic ID represents

In regulated and industrial manufacturing, each measurable or verifiable requirement on a part or assembly (for example a dimension, geometric tolerance, surface finish, material property, or special process parameter) is treated as a separate characteristic. A characteristic ID:

• Uniquely labels that requirement within a drawing, part number, or configuration
• Links the requirement to inspection results, nonconformances, and approvals
• Supports traceability when data moves between systems such as CMM software, MES, QMS, and reporting tools

The ID can be numeric, alphanumeric, or follow a structured scheme (for example 001, 002A, 010.1). In many environments it is tied directly to balloon numbers applied on an engineering drawing.

Use in AS9102 and FAI

In aerospace first article inspection (FAI) and AS9102 workflows, the characteristic ID is commonly used to connect:

• Ballooned drawing characteristics
• Line items on AS9102 Form 3 (characteristic accountability)
• CMM or other automated inspection results

A stable, consistent characteristic ID scheme helps ensure that each result can be traced back to the exact requirement, even if data is transferred between different tools or suppliers.

Operational considerations

When characteristic IDs are used systematically, they typically:

• Are assigned during drawing ballooning or inspection plan creation
• Remain stable across revisions when possible, with clear rules for changes
• Are stored in master data structures, such as characteristic libraries or digital inspection plans
• Are referenced in CMM programs, manual inspection sheets, and electronic forms

Characteristic IDs may also be used in SPC, capability analysis, and defect trend reporting to aggregate data for a given requirement over time.

Common confusion

• Characteristic ID vs. balloon number: In many shops the characteristic ID and the balloon number on the drawing are the same. In others, balloon numbers are visual labels, while the characteristic ID is a separate, system-assigned code. The important aspect is that there is a one-to-one and traceable mapping.
• Characteristic ID vs. feature ID: A feature ID may describe a physical element of the part (for example hole H1), while the characteristic ID refers to a specific requirement on that feature (for example diameter, position, or surface finish). One feature can have multiple characteristics and therefore multiple IDs.

Link to derived context

In integrations between CMM software and AS9102 or other FAI tools, characteristic IDs act as the key that links measured values from the CMM to the correct line items on Form 3 or equivalent reports, enabling automated data import and consistent traceability.