• Why is Boeing adding a new requirement for first article inspection (FAI)?
• Why should we make the change? What are the benefits?
• How will the AS9102 requirement be imposed?
• What about existing work that I do for Boeing?
• Both AS9100 and AS9003 reference the FAI Standard AS9102 as a Note and they state to utilize it for guidance. Which is it, a guide or a requirement?
• When Boeing First Article Inspection (BFAI) is required, what supporting documentation are we expected to provide?

AS9102 does not represent a new requirement for producers who already have AS9100/EN9100 compliant quality systems. The requirement for an FAI process already exists. Section 4.10.6 of AS9100/EN9100 states,

"4.10.6 First Article Inspection: The supplier's system shall provide a process, as appropriate, for the inspection, verification, and documentation of the first production article."

AS9102 clarifies this requirement and will standardize its implementation across our industry. That is not to say that the adoption of AS9102 by the industry will not represent a significant change to some producers. If it did not represent a change, then it would not be worth doing.

The key benefits from AS9102 will be that it clearly answers the larger questions revolving around the conduct of the FAI:

1. WHEN -- AS9102 (Sections 5.1 & 5.2) clearly and definitively specifies when an FAI, or a delta FAI, must be conducted.
2. WHAT -- AS9102 (Sections 5.1 & 5.6) describes what component of the end item must be included in the FAI and what inspections/verifications must be conducted on those components and their associated processes.
3. HOW -- AS9102 (Sections 5.7 through 6.7) specifies how the FAI must be documented.

• FAI records for existing products DO NOT need to be updated to comply with AS9102 standards.
• A Delta FAI must be conducted for any changes to parts or processes covered by AS9102 guidelines (see Section 5.2 of AS9102).
• The Delta FAI record must meet the AS9102 standards.

1. Purchase documents, material/process certifications, and manufacturing and inspection records applicable to the specified article being reviewed.
2. Design drawings applicable to the article (including outstanding change notices).
3. Documented configuration baseline and configuration summary for the article by drawing and effective change numbers.
   Note: All configuration differences must be resolved
4. Material Review Board (MRB) actions for the article being evaluated.
5. Acceptance and qualification test results for the article being reviewed.
6. Record of Boeing approval for supplier drawings and test procedures, as applicable.
7. Complete First Article Inspection (FAI) documentation.
   Note: Supplier's FAI records for some subassembly or component parts may not comply with the current FAI documentation requirements. They will be considered acceptable if they were produced prior to the supplier's adoption of current FAI requirements imposed upon them by Boeing. Any FAI changes made after adoption of AS9102 are expected to comply with AS9102 documentation requirements. It is not acceptable to be missing applicable FAI documentation for any subassembly or component parts that require them without approval of the responsible Supplier Quality (SQ) manager.
8. Inspection plans developed during the coordination step that identify progressive inspection checkpoints for the FAI, as applicable.