Glossary

FAI evidence

FAI evidence is the objective records and data used to support a First Article Inspection package and its reported results.

FAI evidence is the objective information used to support a First Article Inspection (FAI) package and the results reported for a first production article. In manufacturing, it commonly refers to the records, measurements, references, and attachments that show how inspected characteristics were evaluated against engineering and purchase requirements.

FAI evidence may include dimensional inspection results, ballooned drawing references, material or special process certifications, test records, inspection method notes, tooling or gage references, and approvals or review comments associated with the FAI record. In aerospace contexts, it is often organized around AS9102-style FAI documentation, but the term can also be used more generally in regulated or quality-sensitive production.

FAI evidence should not be confused with the FAI activity itself. The inspection is the process of evaluating the article; the evidence is the supporting record set. It also does not, by itself, mean that a part is accepted or that a supplier is formally approved. It provides traceable information for review, quality records, supplier communication, and integration with systems such as QMS, MES, PLM, ERP, or supplier portals.

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