First Article Inspection Report (FAIR)

A First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) is the documented record of a first article inspection. It captures the evidence used to compare a first production article, or a representative production part, against the applicable drawing, specification, purchase order, and engineering requirements.

In aerospace and other regulated manufacturing environments, a FAIR commonly includes part and drawing identification, revision levels, material and special process references, ballooned or numbered characteristics, measured results, and related quality documentation. In aerospace, FAIRs are often associated with AS9102, which defines a structured approach for recording first article inspection information.

A FAIR is not the same as the inspection activity itself. The inspection is the process of verifying characteristics; the FAIR is the report that records the results and supporting information. It also should not be treated as a general production approval or certification by itself. Review and acceptance depend on the applicable customer, quality, and contractual requirements.

Digital FAIR tools are used to manage characteristic data, attachments, revisions, supplier submissions, and review workflows. They can reduce manual transcription and version confusion, but the quality of the FAIR still depends on accurate source data, disciplined inspection practice, and appropriate engineering or quality review.