First Articles on Spares and Stangers

[Rolfieh]

I work in the part fo the business that manufacturers spares and strangers. As all our procedures are derived out of the OE part of the business we are stuck doing FAIs on everything. This means we can have the stupid situation where we buy a nameplate for say £2 ($3) and have to pay the supplier £50 ($75) for the FAI. This is way above what we sell it for and it is quite possible that we might not sell any more for 2 years invoking an FAI each time we place an order (and no we do not want to hold on to slow moving stock). Both AS9100 and AS9102 tend to refer to the production phase which we are definitely out of but it depends on your intereptaion of the definitions an d can be argued both ways. Should FAI really be used on one offs, small orders?

 

[alspread]

The intent of the first article process is to verify the "process" used to make parts. I give you the following quotes from AS9102:

Definition:
FIRST PRODUCTION RUN PARTS: The first group of one or more parts that are the result of a planned process designed to be used for future production of these same parts. Prototype parts, or parts built using methods different from those intended for the normal production process, shall not be considered as part of the first production run.

5. REQUIREMENTS:
5.1 Part Requirements:
The Organization shall perform FAI on new Product representative of the First Production Run.
NOTE: For assemblies, the assembly level FAI shall be performed on those
characteristics specified on the assembly drawing.
NOTE: The Organization shall not use prototype parts, or parts manufactured using methods different from those intended for the normal production process, for the FAI. This Standard may be used to verify conformance of a prototype part to design requirements.

This would seem to indicate that FAI's should not be performed on 'one-offs', but probably should be done on small lots.
Remeber: You are trying to make sure the process has all of the requirements and is capable of continuing to produce conforming hardware. If everythig is a 'one-off', then you probably don't have a production process.

 

[Joy]

One small information-FAI is now moved to excludable area of standard in Rev.C with clause number 7.5.1.1.So organisations with appropriate justification have option to exclude.

 

[howste]

I work in the part fo the business that manufacturers spares and strangers. As all our procedures are derived out of the OE part of the business we are stuck doing FAIs on everything. This means we can have the stupid situation where we buy a nameplate for say £2 ($3) and have to pay the supplier £50 ($75) for the FAI. This is way above what we sell it for and it is quite possible that we might not sell any more for 2 years invoking an FAI each time we place an order (and no we do not want to hold on to slow moving stock).

AS9100 does not require you to ask for an FAI from your suppliers. It says you need to verify that product meets specified purchase requirements through inspection or other activities.

Both AS9100 and AS9102 tend to refer to the production phase which we are definitely out of but it depends on your interpretation of the definitions and can be argued both ways. Should FAI really be used on one offs, small orders?

AS91000 (Rev B and Rev C) doesn't require you to use AS9102 either. It does require you to do a first article (which could be much less than AS9102 requires) when you are producing product for the first time or after changes that would invalidate the previous results.

By the way, what's a "stanger" or "stranger"? I'm unfamiliar with that term.

 

[tyker]

Any chance you could change your procedures?

If you do invoke AS9102, remember that one of the situations where a full or partial resubmission is required is "A lapse in production for two years or as specified by the customer" (clause 5.3). Check with your customers, they may waive, or simply not require, a submission particularly if you ask to negotiate passing on the costs.

Also remember that AS9102 does not apply to procured standard catalog hardware (clause 4). If you can justify putting the parts you are supplying into that classification (and get your customer's agreement) you can save some work and money.

 

[alspread]

Good point about the lapse in production.

Remember that the focus is on production process. So, if a supplier made 100 pieces and put them on the shelf and he ships them in 5 piece lots over ten years. No first article would be required because there was no lapse in production. As long as all of the parts in stock were manufactured per an approved 1st article