What is Quality's and Engineering's role within FAI's

[KatieRobinson]

Hi Guys,

I am new to the forum so apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place!

A question about FAI's:

I am covering for one of my colleagues for an FAI due to be carried out on an electronic rack being produced. I have undertaken lower levels of FAI's before but not to a box of tricks like this before!

I am being accompanied by 2 x engineers so this takes a lot of the pressure off me but as we have a drawing package to support the end product I wondered whether I ask them to check each drawing against the physical product (as I am not competent to do this as a quality rep, right?) or is this typically carried out on a sample? Also, it will require some sort of functional test to prove - again, I will rely on the engineers to witness and I will document any issues or problems experienced, right?

What is quality's role within FAI's and what is engineering's role? I do have a checklist and am planning to facilitate the FAI, is this correct?

Any help would be really appreciated!

Thanks guys,

Katie

 

[dsanabria]

Hi Guys,

I am new to the forum so apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place!

A question about FAI's:

I am covering for one of my colleagues for an FAI due to be carried out on an electronic rack being produced. I have undertaken lower levels of FAI's before but not to a box of tricks like this before!

I am being accompanied by 2 x engineers so this takes a lot of the pressure off me but as we have a drawing package to support the end product I wondered whether I ask them to check each drawing against the physical product (as I am not competent to do this as a quality rep, right?) or is this typically carried out on a sample? Also, it will require some sort of functional test to prove - again, I will rely on the engineers to witness and I will document any issues or problems experienced, right?

What is quality's role within FAI's and what is engineering's role? I do have a checklist and am planning to facilitate the FAI, is this correct?

Any help would be really appreciated!

Thanks guys,

Katie

Has the customer imposed or told you to do a FAIR (First Article Inspection Report) per AS9102?

or

Are you doing an FAI - First Article Inspection - for production purposes?

 

[KatieRobinson]

Hi, the customer requires a fai

 

[dsanabria]

Hi, the customer requires a fai

Then review your internal procedure on how an FAI is done and follow them... or are they also vague on instructions. Let me know.

 

[Mike_H]

QA's role is to ensure all FAI processes/procedures are followed to the extent that the article is verified as being complete to requirements (including drawing requirements). QA may also have a role in reviewing the initial FAI report for completeness before any verification starts (again, that depends of your FAI procedures). It is a good idea for an FAI report to be checked independently before starting, especially an assembly made up of various sub-assemblies.

FAI certainly needs to be conducted on one of the first batches/production runs and not on an article created with "passing FAI" in mind! QA should be across whether your processes are repeatable and robust enough so the FAI is in fact representing production's true capabilities.

Some other roles typically coordinated by QA:
*Special processes (ie.soldering or welding) need to be taken into account.For example, if soldering was performed then how was it accepted...per IPC610? The drawing may contain this detail, but if it doesn't then QA should intervene.
*NCR's may need to be raised and dispositioned by Engineering for "use-as-is" (the defective feature will need to be reverified at a later date to accept that feature in full, the FAI may be closed but the NCR'd feature carried over to a delta FAI)
*Calibrated tools may need to be used and recorded
*Adhesives/life controlled materials may need to be recorded on the FAI
*Traceability to any lower level or supplier generated FAIs
*Close the FAI once all of the above are complete

Engineering should be concerned that FAI verifies current design and any non-conformances are send to MRB. They may also have a role to play in defining interface/attachment points or other key features, if they aren't already defined on the drawing.

Food for thought, but it all depends on the level of detail within your current FAI procedure. That should be your starting position of course.

 

[Big Jim]

Hi, the customer requires a fai

There is a difference between FAI per AS9100C requirements and AS9102 requirements. Make sure you know which one you need to perform to.

AS9100C requires that you validate your production process by inspecting a representative sample from the first production run of a new part or assembly to verify that the production processes, documentation, and tooling are capable of meeting specifications.

AS9100C does not specify what forms to use or how to do it.

AS9102 is much more specific in that it tells you what forms to use and how to fill them out.

 

[KatieRobinson]

Mike/Jim,

Thank you so much for your help here! Most useful!

Katie