First article inspection labs serve both engineers and manufacturers through their services. When engineers take a manufacturer's first article produced from their schematics to a first article laboratory, they ensure that the final products produced by their chosen manufacturer will function perfectly. When manufacturers partner with first article inspection labs, they give their customers peace of mind and enhance their reliability. In both cases, the products produced by manufacturers must be made precisely and correctly, according to the engineer's schematics. If you are just about to get a first article inspection done, here are three steps to take to ensure you pass the inspection.

Triple Check Schematics

One of the first steps a first article inspection lab will take is thoroughly reading through the engineer's schematics that you used to create their design. Their job is to ensure that every aspect of the engineer's vision is included in the final product and that every dimension of the final product is within limits allowed by the schematics. If your technicians miss any detail from the schematics, the final product almost certainly won't pass inspection. Pay close attention to dimensions, tolerances, and materials when reading through the schematics. If you use the wrong materials or create a product that is the wrong size or shape, the inspection lab won't pass your product or recommend that an engineer continues to work with your company.

Use The Right Techniques

Schematics tell manufacturers and inspectors more than just dimensions and materials; they also frequently specify manufacturing techniques. Technicians at first article inspection labs are trained to find evidence of manufacturing techniques used to create objects and compare them with the specified techniques in schematics. If your factory can't use some manufacturing techniques, resorting to using other similar techniques won't be enough to help you pass inspection. Instead, you should either work with another manufacturer who can handle that process or drop the project before accepting a contract. If you have partnered with a first article inspection lab, they may be able to offer additional advice or connect you with other manufacturers.

Check The Product Yourself

In order to ensure your success at a first article inspection, you should check over the product yourself before taking it to the lab. Conduct your own first article inspection by checking the product's dimensions, materials, and manufacturing techniques against the schematics. Although you won't be as skilled as a first article inspector at a dedicated lab, you should be able to increase your chances of success by catching things any manufacturer would be able to catch before sending your product to the lab.

To learn more, contact a first article dimensional inspection laboratory in your area.