What is 1factory? Modules, integrations and alternatives
1factory is a cloud-based quality management platform for manufacturers, centred on turning engineering drawings into inspection plans and recording results for first article inspection, in-process and final inspection, and SPC. It is aimed at discrete manufacturers, including aerospace and defense suppliers, that need inspection records and reporting without heavy IT effort.
Also known as: 1factory quality, 1factory FAI
The workflow starts with a part drawing. Users create a ballooned drawing, where each dimension or note is numbered, and the platform converts those characteristics into an inspection plan. Inspectors then record measured values against the plan, and the system flags results outside tolerance.
Because the same characteristics feed several outputs, one set of data can support first article inspection reports, in-process checks and statistical analysis. Customers and suppliers can exchange inspection data, which is useful for manufacturers that must send inspection reports to a prime or that collect them from their own suppliers.
In a manufacturing stack it sits alongside the ERP and MES. The ERP owns items, orders and receiving; 1factory owns the inspection definitions and measurement records. Many shops adopt it to replace spreadsheets and paper travelers for inspection, then connect it to ERP data as the program matures.
Modules and capabilities
Drawing ballooning
Marks up PDF or CAD-derived drawings and extracts characteristics with their tolerances into an inspection plan.
Inspection plans
Defines what is measured, with which instrument, at what frequency, for receiving, in-process and final inspection.
First article inspection
Produces first article reports from inspection data, supporting formats customers expect such as AS9102 for aerospace.
Data collection
Records measurements by manual entry, import, or connected measurement devices, tied to part and lot.
SPC and analytics
Provides control charts, capability metrics and trend views from collected inspection data.
Nonconformance and supplier quality
Tracks nonconformances and shares inspection requirements and results with suppliers or customers.
Integrations and data access
Drawings and CAD
Accepts PDF drawings and, for supported formats, model-derived data to generate characteristics.
Measurement devices
Connects to digital calipers, micrometers and other devices, and can import results from CMM outputs; verify exact devices.
ERP data
Part numbers, orders and lots are commonly synchronised from the ERP by import or API; depth varies by project.
Exports
Reports and data can be exported to PDF, spreadsheet and data files for customers and further analysis.
Strengths
- Drawing-to-plan workflow shortens the time to create inspection plans and first article reports.
- One data set serves FAI, in-process inspection and SPC rather than separate tools.
- Cloud delivery means little local infrastructure to maintain.
- Supplier and customer sharing suits manufacturers with prime-contractor reporting obligations.
Limitations
- Cloud-only delivery may not suit sites that require on-premises or air-gapped systems.
- Broader QMS functions such as document control and audit management may need another system.
- Ballooning quality depends on drawing clarity; poor scans still need manual correction.
- ERP and MES integration is typically project work rather than a ready connector for every system.
Where AI helps 1factory users
- - Assist ballooning by proposing characteristics and tolerances from a drawing, with an engineer approving each one.
- - Summarise failing characteristics across lots and suggest which operations or machines to review.
- - Draft nonconformance descriptions from inspection data for a quality engineer to edit.
- - Answer questions across inspection history, such as which features fail most often for a part family, via read-only queries.
Evaluating 1factory? Check these
- Run several of your real drawings, including poor-quality scans, through the ballooning workflow.
- Check that the first article report formats your customers require are supported.
- Confirm how measurement devices and CMM outputs reach the platform.
- Ask how data residency, retention and export are handled given any contract flow-down requirements.
- Define how ERP part and lot data will be synchronised and who owns the mapping.
Common alternatives: Net-Inspect, InfinityQS ProFicient, Minitab, PC-DMIS, Verisurf, ETQ Reliance.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1factory do?
It helps manufacturers create inspection plans from drawings, record inspection results, and produce reports such as first article inspections. It also offers SPC and supplier quality features. The goal is to replace paper and spreadsheet inspection records with a managed digital process.
Does 1factory support AS9102 first article reports?
First article reporting for aerospace is a core use case, and AS9102-style forms are commonly supported. Confirm the exact form versions and customer-specific variants you need during evaluation, because requirements differ between primes.
Is 1factory a full QMS?
It covers inspection, SPC and some nonconformance and supplier functions, but it is not a complete QMS for every purpose. Document control, training records and audit programs often use a dedicated QMS alongside it.
Can it connect to our ERP?
Typically by importing part, order and lot data and exporting results, using the vendor's integration options. The depth depends on your ERP and project scope, so request an approach for your specific system.
What are alternatives to 1factory?
Alternatives include Net-Inspect for supplier-facing aerospace quality, InfinityQS ProFicient for SPC, and CMM software such as PC-DMIS for measurement. Which fits depends on whether you need FAI, SPC or machine measurement.
Running 1factory?
We add AI, chat, automation and integrations to the systems manufacturers already run, on-prem if needed.
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