// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
First Article
The initial production run or a sample from it, produced using the final manufacturing process, which is then inspected to ensure it meets all specifications before mass production begins.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A First Article is the initial production part or assembly manufactured using the final production tooling, processes, and materials, subjected to a comprehensive First Article Inspection (FAI) to verify conformity to all design specifications.
BACKGROUND
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as 4IR, Industry 4.0 or the Intelligence Age, is a neologism describing rapid technological advancement in the 21st century. It follows the Third Industrial Revolution. The term was popularized in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum founder and former executive chairman, who asserts that these developments represent a significant shift in industrial capitalism.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- FAI (First Article Inspection)
- Pilot Run Sample
- Production Prototype
USAGE NOTE
A critical step in validating manufacturing processes and ensuring product quality before full-scale production.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to First Article.
Develops a comprehensive suite of metrology hardware (CMMs, laser scanners) and software (PC-DMIS) used to automate the measurement and inspection processes required for First Article Inspection (FAI), comparing physical parts to digital CAD models.
Provides advanced, non-contact measurement systems, including vision systems and 3D scanners (like the VL and VR series), that can rapidly capture high-accuracy data from a first article part to automatically check dimensions against specifications.
Offers a manufacturing quality management software platform specifically designed to automate the entire First Article Inspection process, from ballooning 2D drawings and 3D models to generating standardized reports like AS9102.
A leading manufacturer of high-precision coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), optical scanners, and the accompanying CALYPSO software, which are used to conduct detailed geometric and dimensional verification for FAI reports.
Creates model-based inspection and measurement software that integrates with virtually all CMMs and 3D scanners. The software automates the process of creating inspection plans and FAI reports directly from the CAD authority model.
Provides a cloud-based quality management software focused on the aerospace and defense supply chain. Its platform digitizes and streamlines the creation, management, and submission of First Article Inspection reports.
A major provider of metrology instruments and software. Their CMMs, vision systems, and MCOSMOS software suite enable manufacturers to collect the precise measurement data needed to complete and document First Article Inspections.
Offers a cloud-based Smart Manufacturing Platform that includes Quality Management System (QMS) modules. These modules help manage and document the FAI process as an integrated part of the overall production workflow.