characteristic list

A characteristic list is a structured listing of the individual product or process characteristics that must be inspected, measured, or otherwise verified for a given part, assembly, or operation. It commonly appears in regulated manufacturing environments as part of first article inspection (FAI), in-process inspection, or final acceptance documentation.

Each entry in a characteristic list typically corresponds to a specific requirement taken from a drawing, model, specification, or control plan. The list provides a clear reference for inspectors and operators so they know what to check, how to check it, and how to record results.

Typical contents of a characteristic list

While formats vary by industry and customer, a characteristic list usually includes:

• A unique characteristic number (often linked to a ballooned drawing or model)
• The requirement description (for example: dimension, geometric tolerance, material property, surface finish)
• The nominal value and tolerance or acceptance criteria
• Reference to the drawing zone or CAD feature
• The inspection or verification method (for example: CMM, caliper, visual, functional test)
• Sampling or frequency, if applicable
• Fields for measured values, pass/fail status, and comments

Use in aerospace and AS9102 / FAI

In aerospace and other regulated industries, a characteristic list is a core element of AS9102 first article inspection and similar FAI processes. The list is often built directly from the ballooned drawing or model, with each balloon number mapped to a row in the list. This allows:

• Traceability between design requirements and inspection records
• Standardized inspection workflows across sites, suppliers, and programs
• Consistent data structures for digital FAI, MES, PLM, or quality systems

Operationally, the characteristic list may live in a spreadsheet, an FAI software tool, a QMS form, or within an MES inspection operation. In multi-site organizations, a “standard” characteristic list format is often defined, then local plants map their tools and numbering conventions into that structure.

What a characteristic list is not

A characteristic list is not the same as:

• A full control plan, which usually covers process controls, reaction plans, and broader risk information
• A process routing or traveler, which focuses on the sequence of operations rather than individual measured characteristics
• A general checklist for work instructions, which may include tasks not tied to specific measurable characteristics

Common confusion

The term is sometimes used interchangeably with related concepts such as:

• Ballooned characteristic list: explicitly tied to drawing balloons or CAD feature IDs
• Inspection characteristic list or inspection plan: emphasizes the measurement and recording aspect

In manufacturing and quality contexts, the common thread is that a characteristic list always refers to a structured, itemized set of requirements to be checked, not just a free-form description of the part.

Link to standardized workflows

When organizations standardize AS9102 or other inspection workflows across multiple sites, the characteristic list becomes a key artifact. A shared characteristic list structure allows different plants, software tools, and legacy systems to map inspection data into a consistent model while still supporting local constraints and customer-specific formats.