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Request Engineering ReviewSwiss CNC FAI Package
A Swiss CNC FAI package shows whether the submitted first article conforms to the active drawing revision. Each applicable ballooned requirement should map to an actual result and supporting evidence, with sample, material and required special-process records traceable where applicable.
FAI Package Preview
First Article Evidence
02 — Approval Criteria
A reviewer needs more than a report file. The package must establish the applicable design baseline, show that required characteristics have been checked, and connect the recorded results to the correct submitted sample.
Reviewer check
Does the sample match the released drawing revision, specified material and required final condition?Evidence to retain
Controlled drawing and revision, plus material or special-process records where specified.Reviewer check
Can each applicable ballooned characteristic be matched to an actual result or an accepted attribute check?Evidence to retain
Ballooned drawing, dimensional report and relevant CMM, gauge or visual-inspection records.Reviewer check
Can the reviewer identify the sample and applicable lot, and determine how exceptions were resolved?Evidence to retain
Part, lot or sample identifiers; linked report references; applicable deviation records; and approval or disposition.03 — Package Contents
A Swiss CNC FAI package combines the controlled design baseline, recorded inspection results and supporting records required for first-article review. Each applicable requirement should be traceable to its result or supporting evidence.
The required scope is project-specific. Material certificates, special-process records and functional test evidence belong in the package when required by the drawing, purchase order, customer procedure or applicable standard.
Use this matrix to define the required submission. Include only the records applicable to the controlled requirements and agreed FAI scope.
| Package Item | What It Should Contain | Typical Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Part Identification | Part number, drawing revision and submitted sample reference. | Cover sheet or sample identification record. |
| Ballooned Drawing | Applicable dimensions, drawing notes, specifications and other controlled requirements. | Controlled ballooned drawing. |
| Inspection Results | Requirement reference, actual result and acceptance status. | Dimensional inspection or layout report. |
| Material Evidence | Required material grade, specification and traceable certificate reference, where applicable. | Material certificate or Mill Test Report (MTR). |
| Special-Process Evidence | Required heat treatment, plating, coating or other specified process evidence. | Process certificate or required test record. |
| Functional or Attribute Evidence | Required thread, surface roughness, leak, fit or other drawing-defined attribute result. | Gauge result, test record or supporting inspection evidence. |
| Traceability Reference | References connecting the submitted sample with applicable material, process and inspection records. | Sample identifier, lot reference or linked record ID. |
| Approval or Disposition | Acceptance, rejection or approved deviation status, as applicable. | Customer approval or documented disposition record. |
04 — Requirement Mapping
A ballooned drawing helps connect each applicable design requirement to its inspection record. The objective is traceability: a reviewer should be able to identify the controlled requirement, find its actual result or supporting evidence, and understand its acceptance or disposition status.
Verify the part number, drawing revision and applicable approved changes before assigning balloon IDs or recording results.
Where ballooning is required or used, identify the applicable dimensions, GD&T controls, notes, threads, material, finish and specified tests.
Link each requirement to its actual measured value, approved attribute result or referenced supporting record, as appropriate to the requirement.
Identify accepted results and keep rejected, pending or deviated requirements visible until the applicable disposition is documented.
Illustrative record structure only. Replace the placeholders with the applicable drawing and inspection data.
| Balloon ID | Controlled Requirement | Result or Evidence | Status / Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Assigned ID] | [Drawing requirement and revision] | [Actual value with unit, or linked attribute evidence] | [Acceptance or documented disposition] |
05 — Inspection Evidence
An FAI record should make the inspection evidence understandable and reviewable. The key is not simply listing inspection activities: the submitted records must show what was evaluated, what result was obtained and which supporting evidence applies to the first article.
For variable characteristics, record the measured value and unit against the applicable drawing requirement. Include the specified limits or a clear reference to them where the report format requires it. Do not replace required numerical results with a generic “Pass.”
Use a method suited to the characteristic being evaluated. A critical diameter, runout requirement, thread or surface condition may need different verification methods. The recorded result must correspond to the actual requirement.
Identify the gauge, instrument or supporting report when required by the customer procedure or agreed record format. Where applicable, retain equipment identification and calibration or verification references so the evidence can be reviewed.
For an approved attribute check, record the permitted result and reference supporting evidence where needed. Keep the submitted sample identifiable and connect applicable inspection records to that sample rather than relying on untraceable measurements.
Record Completeness Rule
Before submission, confirm that applicable requirements have reviewable results, the inspection method and supporting records are identifiable where required, and the sample can be matched to its evidence. Keep missing results and unresolved deviations visible until they are addressed.
06 — Supporting Records & Traceability
Supporting documents must be traceable to the actual part being evaluated. The key is a clear link between sample identity, applicable revision, relevant records and final part condition. Reviewers should be able to retrieve the required evidence without guessing which lot, process or inspection report applies.
Include records required by the drawing, purchase order, customer procedure or agreed FAI scope.
| Record Group | Required Linkage | Reviewer Check |
|---|---|---|
| 01 — Identity Submitted sample | Part number, applicable drawing revision, sample identifier and relevant FAI report reference. | Confirm that the inspected sample and its records refer to the same part and revision. |
| 02 — Material Material certificate | Specified material grade or specification, material lot or heat number, and the applicable certificate. | Verify that the certificate matches the material requirements and the supplied lot where traceability is required. |
| 03 — Processing Special-process record | Applicable heat treatment, plating, coating, passivation or other specified process record, including its relevant batch or lot reference. | Confirm the required process and applicable final condition. Include only records relevant to the agreed scope. |
| 04 — Verification External test or inspection | Report identifier, applicable characteristic or test, sample or lot reference, and supporting document location. | Retrieve the referenced record and verify that its result applies to the submitted first article. |
| 05 — Exceptions Deviation record | Applicable nonconformance or deviation reference, together with its documented disposition when one is required. | Ensure that an unresolved item is not presented as accepted and that any approval is traceable to the applicable requirement. |
07 — Inspection & Approval Boundaries
These records can support the same project, but they serve different purposes. A dimensional report alone is not automatically a complete FAI package, and a first-off check does not automatically satisfy a formal first-article submission. The required scope depends on the applicable customer procedure, contract and approved quality requirements.
Compare what each record demonstrates and what it does not establish on its own.
| Record Type | Primary Purpose | Scope Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| First-Article Evidence FAI | Documents conformity of the submitted first article against the applicable drawing and specification requirements within the agreed FAI scope. | Does not by itself prove ongoing production capability. Required dimensional, material, process, traceability and disposition records depend on the applicable submission requirements. |
| Initial-Part Check First-Off Inspection | Checks an initial production part or defined startup characteristics according to the applicable shop-floor control plan or customer procedure. | It may overlap with FAI activities, but it is not automatically equivalent to a complete, formally traceable first-article submission. Terminology and requirements vary by customer. |
| Measurement Output CMM Report | Records dimensional or geometric measurement results obtained using a coordinate measuring machine for the characteristics included in the report. | Covers only the reported measurements and applicable inspection scope. It does not independently establish material conformity, special-process compliance, sample traceability or customer approval. |
| Production Approval PPAP | Provides a customer-defined production part approval package for automotive applications, including the applicable design, process, test and approval evidence. | Submission content depends on the required PPAP level and customer-specific requirements. An FAI package or dimensional report does not automatically replace the required PPAP submission. |
08 — Repeat FAI Scope
Repeat-FAI scope should be determined by the change being reviewed, its potential impact and the applicable customer requirements. A change does not automatically mean that every original inspection record must be repeated. First establish which requirements are affected and whether a full, partial or no new submission is permitted.
Consider a complete resubmission when the change requires the original conformity evidence to be re-established.
Review Triggers
A limited resubmission may be suitable when the affected characteristics can be identified and the procedure allows it.
Review Triggers
Review the actual change before deciding to repeat an FAI. Avoid treating routine production events as automatic triggers.
Check Before Resubmission
09 — Pre-Approval Review
An FAI package can contain correct measurements and still be difficult to approve when requirements, samples, supporting records or disposition status are incomplete or cannot be traced. Review both the inspection results and the evidence connecting those results to the approved design baseline.
10 — FAI FAQ
Before quotation or first-article submission, clarify the required inspection scope, sample quantity and approval route. The applicable drawing, purchase order and customer procedure determine the final submission requirements.
No. First Article Inspection (FAI) documents conformity of identified first-article sample(s) against the applicable design baseline and reporting requirements. 100% inspection applies the defined inspection checks to every part in the specified production quantity. An FAI does not automatically require 100% inspection of the production lot.
Each applicable design characteristic should have a corresponding result or supporting evidence reference under the required reporting format. Any exclusion, special reporting treatment or reference to previously approved evidence must follow the applicable customer procedure and approved FAI scope.
There is no single sample quantity that applies to every Swiss CNC project. Confirm the quantity and reporting requirements in the purchase order, customer procedure or approved FAI plan. Identify the inspected sample(s) so that each reported result can be traced to the correct part.
Not automatically. FAI documents conformity against a defined design and submission baseline; it does not by itself demonstrate ongoing production capability. Future production remains subject to the applicable controls, and changes that meet the relevant repeat-FAI criteria may require renewed evidence or resubmission.
