AS9102 Form 1 is used to establish part number accountability for a First Article Inspection, or FAI. Its main purpose is to identify exactly what part, assembly, revision, and FAI scope the report applies to, so the inspection record is tied to the correct configuration. It is not the form that records every drawing characteristic or inspection result; that is primarily handled on AS9102 Form 3.
In practical terms, Form 1 answers: What item is this FAI for, what configuration is being inspected, and how does it relate to any prior or lower-level FAI records?
What Form 1 commonly captures
The exact fields depend on the AS9102 revision, customer requirements, and any site-specific procedures, but Form 1 commonly includes information such as:
- Part number, part name, and serial or lot identification where applicable.
- FAI report number and whether the FAI is full or partial.
- Drawing or design revision level and applicable change identifiers.
- Reason for the FAI, such as new part introduction, design change, process change, lapse in production, or other trigger defined by procedure or customer flowdown.
- References to related FAI reports, especially for assemblies or previously approved lower-level parts.
- Signatures or approvals required by the organization, customer, or delegated authority process.
Why it matters
Form 1 provides the configuration anchor for the FAI package. Without it, inspection results may exist, but it can be unclear whether they apply to the correct part number, revision, build condition, or FAI scope. That is a common failure mode in aerospace and other regulated manufacturing environments: the measurements may be technically valid, but the traceability is weak.
For assemblies, Form 1 is also important because it helps account for detail parts and related FAI records. It should make clear whether supporting FAIs exist and how they connect to the top-level article. This is especially important when parts come from different suppliers or when legacy FAI records are reused for a partial FAI.
What Form 1 does not do
Form 1 does not replace the rest of the AS9102 package. It does not list all ballooned drawing characteristics, measured values, material certifications, special process evidence, or functional test results. Those records are normally addressed through Form 2, Form 3, and supporting documentation.
It also does not guarantee acceptance by a customer, auditor, or regulator. Acceptance depends on the completeness of the FAI package, the applicable AS9102 revision, customer flowdowns, internal procedures, supporting evidence, and how well the records match the actual production configuration.
System and data considerations
In a brownfield environment, Form 1 data may come from ERP, PLM, MES, QMS, supplier portals, or document control systems. That can work, but only if part numbers, revisions, drawing baselines, routing context, and FAI identifiers are controlled consistently. Poor master data or weak integration can create mismatches between the FAI record and the production build.
For many plants, the realistic goal is not full system replacement. Existing ERP, MES, PLM, and QMS systems often have long validation histories and deep operational dependencies. A safer approach is usually controlled integration, validated data mapping, clear ownership of each field, and change control around any automated population of AS9102 forms.