FAI approval is the formal acceptance of a First Article Inspection package for a part, assembly, or manufacturing process. It indicates that the reviewed first article inspection record supports conformity to the applicable drawing, specification, and purchase or production requirements.
In aerospace and other regulated manufacturing environments, FAI approval commonly applies to a First Article Inspection Report, or FAIR. The reviewed package may include ballooned drawings, characteristic results, material and special process evidence, configuration references, and required signatures or workflow approvals. The approval may be performed internally, by a customer, or through a supplier quality workflow, depending on the contract and quality process.
FAI approval should not be confused with routine lot acceptance, final inspection, or general product certification. It is tied to the first article inspection baseline and is often required when a new part is produced, a design or process changes, production is restarted after a defined interruption, or a new supplier or manufacturing location is introduced.