# What Is First Article Inspection in SAP, and How to Run It in QM > Source: https://netray.co/erp-help/what-is-first-article-inspection-in-sap > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: ERP Help ## Short answer First article inspection (FAI) in SAP is not a single button. You model it in SAP QM with an inspection type that creates an inspection lot when the production order is released, an inspection plan with the characteristics to verify on the first piece, and results recorded then closed by a usage decision. Aerospace AS9102-style FAI forms normally need extra reporting on top. ## Kind how-to ## System sap ## Erp SAP ERP / S/4HANA ## Module QM / Quality Inspection in Production ## Query what is first article inspection in sap ## Alternate Queries - first article inspection sap - sap first article inspection production order - sap qm first article inspection setup ## Applies To SAP ECC 6.0 and S/4HANA with QM and PP active; inspection type numbers and screens vary slightly by release ## Steps ### Setting up and running FAI **Items:** - Decide the FAI trigger: new part, new revision, new tooling or process change. SAP does not decide this for you, so define the rule as a business process. - Define or reuse an inspection type for in-process inspection of production orders in customizing (Quality Management, Quality Inspection, Inspection Lot Creation, Maintain Inspection Type). - In the material master QM view (MM02), add that inspection type to the material, activate it, and set the inspection lot to be created at order release. - Create an inspection plan (QP01) with the FAI characteristics: dimensions, tolerances, drawing balloon references, tests and certifications, and assign the plan to the material and inspection type. - Release the production order (CO02). SAP creates the inspection lot automatically. Check it in QA03 or the order object list. - Record results (QE51N) against the lot, using the sample of one or the sample size your sampling procedure defines for the first piece. - Make the usage decision (QA11). Accept to continue the run, reject to stop and raise a notification (QM01) or rework. ## Sections ### What FAI means and why SAP has no single FAI function **Body:** First article inspection is the documented verification that the first part from a new or changed process meets every drawing and specification requirement before full production continues. Aerospace and defense customers often require it in a defined format, commonly AS9102. SAP standard supports the mechanics through QM: inspection planning, lot creation, results recording and decisions. It does not ship a ready AS9102 form, so most plants configure QM for the inspection and use a custom form or a QMS tool for the formal report. ### Inspection type and lot creation at order release **Body:** Inspection lot creation is controlled by the inspection type in the material master QM view. For production, a type tied to the production order creates a lot when the order is released, so the lot exists before anyone cuts metal and can hold the shop floor responsible for the first piece. To make the lot FAI only, use a dedicated inspection type or a rule in the inspection plan so routine lots do not carry the full characteristic list. Many plants add a status or material field to say FAI required, and a user exit or enhancement to create the lot only when it is true. ### Plan, results and decision **Body:** The inspection plan lists operations and master inspection characteristics. For FAI, use characteristics that mirror the drawing, quantitative where a measured value is recorded and qualitative where it is pass or fail. Link them to a sampling procedure of one piece, or 100 percent for the first article. Results go in through QE51N. The usage decision in QA11 closes the lot and drives stock posting. A rejected FAI should block the order from proceeding through a quality notification, a follow-up action, or an operation control key requiring a confirmation of inspection. ## Pitfalls - Expecting an out-of-the-box AS9102 form. Plan for a report or an external QMS document. - Letting the inspection type apply to every order, creating FAI lots for repeat runs. - Setting a sample of the whole lot instead of the first piece. - Not tying the usage decision to production, so a failed FAI does not stop the run. - Forgetting to re-trigger FAI after a revision change in the BOM or routing. ## Ai Angle A private AI layer such as ERPray can read your inspection lots, plans and decisions to list which orders are missing an FAI, or which part revisions have no accepted first article. It reads and explains, while the lot, results and decision are still made in SAP QM by authorised users. ## Faq ### Does SAP have a standard FAI module? **Answer:** No single FAI module. You build it from QM inspection types, inspection plans, inspection lots and usage decisions. Formal AS9102 reports usually need a custom form or an external quality system fed by SAP data. ### When is the inspection lot created for FAI? **Answer:** Typically at production order release when the in-process inspection type is active in the material master QM view. The lot appears before work starts, so the first piece can be inspected and decided on. ### How do I limit FAI to the first piece? **Answer:** Use a sampling procedure with a fixed sample of one, or a dedicated inspection type for FAI only. Combine it with a rule that creates the lot only for new parts, new revisions or changed processes. ### What happens if the first article fails? **Answer:** Record the results, reject in the usage decision and raise a quality notification. Depending on setup, the production order can be blocked until the issue is corrected and a new inspection lot passes. ## Search terms first article inspection sap, what is first article inspection in sap, sap qm first article, sap fai, as9102 sap, sap inspection lot production order, sap qm in-process inspection, sap inspection type production --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json