# First Piece Inspection Template for Setup Approval

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/first-piece-inspection-template
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

A setup approval record for the first part of a run, with dimension table, reason for inspection and release signatures.

## Category

quality

## Industry

Discrete Manufacturing

## Audience

- Quality inspector
- CNC machinist
- Production supervisor
- Quality engineer

## Tool

**Kind:** template

**Output:** document

**Fields:**

#### Company name

**Key:** company

**Type:** text

**Default:** Acme Precision Ltd

#### Date and time

**Key:** date

**Type:** text

**Default:** 2026-10-20 07:45

#### Job or work order

**Key:** job

**Type:** text

**Default:** WO-118204

#### Part number

**Key:** part_no

**Type:** text

**Default:** SHF-2207

#### Drawing revision

**Key:** rev

**Type:** text

**Default:** B

#### Operation

**Key:** op

**Type:** text

**Default:** OP 20 CNC turning

#### Machine or work center

**Key:** machine

**Type:** text

**Default:** Lathe 04

#### Operator

**Key:** operator

**Type:** text

**Default:** S. Okafor

#### Reason for first piece

**Key:** reason

**Type:** select

**Options:**

- New job setup
- Tool change
- Shift change
- Material lot change
- Machine restart after downtime
- Program change

**Default:** New job setup

#### Gages used (IDs)

**Key:** gages

**Type:** text

**Default:** MIC-112, CAL-044, SRT-009

#### Overall result

**Key:** result

**Type:** select

**Options:**

- Approved to run
- Approved with adjustment and recheck
- Rejected, setup to be corrected

**Default:** Approved to run

#### Comments or offsets applied

**Key:** comments

**Type:** textarea

**Default:** Diameter on feature 3 at upper tolerance. Tool offset reduced by 0.005 mm and second piece measured to confirm.

**Blocks:**

#### First Piece Inspection Record

**Body:** Company: {{company}}
Date and time: {{date}}
Job or work order: {{job}}
Part number / revision: {{part_no}} / {{rev}}
Operation: {{op}}
Machine: {{machine}}
Operator: {{operator}}

#### Reason for inspection

**Body:** {{reason}}

#### Characteristics

**Table:**

**Columns:**

- Char #
- Description
- Nominal
- Tolerance
- Actual
- Pass / Fail

**Rows:**

**0:** 1

**0:** 2

**0:** 3

**0:** 4

**0:** 5

**0:** 6

#### Setup verification

**Table:**

**Columns:**

- Check
- Yes
- No
- N/A

**Rows:**

**0:** Correct drawing revision at the machine

**0:** Program and tool list match the routing

**0:** Material lot and certificate verified

**0:** Gages are in calibration

**0:** Surface finish and appearance checked

#### Gages and result

**Body:** Gages used: {{gages}}
Overall result: {{result}}

Comments: {{comments}}

#### Release

**Signatures:**

- Operator
- Quality inspector
- Supervisor

**Notes:** Use this for in-process setup approval of the first part of a run. It is not an AS9102 first article inspection report; use a first article form when a customer or the AS9100 process requires FAI documentation.

## Content

**Intro:** First piece inspection stops a run of scrap before it starts. After setup, a tool change or a restart, the first part is checked against the drawing and the operator does not run production until it is approved.

**Sections:**

#### How to use the template

**Body:** Enter the job, part, revision, operation and machine in the fields, choose the reason for the first piece and export the document. Then list the characteristics to be checked, with nominal, tolerance and actual values, and mark each pass or fail. Complete the setup verification table before signing. The operator, inspector and supervisor sign when the part is approved. If a characteristic fails, record the correction, such as a tool offset, and measure a second piece before releasing the machine.

**Bullets:**

- Check every characteristic that the setup can influence, not only the one adjusted.
- Measure with calibrated gages and list the IDs.
- Keep the approved piece at the machine as a reference until the run ends.

#### When to do a first piece check

**Body:** Common triggers are a new job setup, a tool change, a program or offset change, a change of material lot, a machine restart after downtime or a shift change. Many plants write these triggers into the control plan. Frequency and characteristics should follow the process risk: a high precision turned part may need first piece plus periodic checks, while a simple stamping may only need first off after die setup.

#### First piece versus first article

**Body:** First piece inspection is an internal setup approval for every run. First article inspection under AS9102 is a documented verification of a new part number, a design change or a process change, with ballooned drawings and specified forms. A first piece check is quick and repeated often. An FAI is formal, retained as a customer record and done infrequently. Do not use this template as a substitute when a customer requires an FAI report.

#### Common mistakes

**Body:** Frequent problems are checking only the easy dimensions, using the previous job's drawing revision, and letting the operator measure and approve their own first part without an independent check where the control plan requires one. Another is approving the part but not recording the offset changes, so the next shift repeats the same adjustment. Always record corrections and the verification piece.

**Cta:** If your MES or ERP creates shop orders and operations, we can discuss how a first piece check could be forced as a gate before production quantity is reported.

**Faq:**

#### Who should approve a first piece?

**Answer:** Your control plan or quality procedure decides. Often a quality inspector or a trained setup person other than the operator approves, and the supervisor signs to release the machine. Independent verification is important for critical characteristics.

#### How many characteristics must be checked?

**Answer:** All characteristics that the setup, tool or program can affect, plus any key or critical characteristics on the drawing or control plan. Checking only one dimension misses setup errors elsewhere on the part. The inspection plan should list them for each operation.

#### What happens if the first piece fails?

**Answer:** Stop, correct the cause, such as an offset or fixture issue, and make another piece. Measure it and approve before running. Record the failed result and the correction so the next setup can learn from it. Quarantine any pieces made before the check.

#### Is first piece inspection the same as first article inspection?

**Answer:** No. First piece is a routine setup approval for each run. First article inspection, defined in AS9102 for aerospace, is a formal documented check of a new or changed part or process. A first piece check does not satisfy an FAI requirement.

## Search terms

first piece inspection template, first piece inspection report, first off inspection form, setup approval form, first part inspection checklist, first piece approval format, fpi report template, first off approval

---
Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json