First Article Inspection
From Vietnam Factories You Can Trust
179+ audited factories. On-ground Dewin team. CMM and VMM inspection equipment on-site. Real dimensional reports, real material certs — not a spreadsheet your factory filled in themselves.
What Is First Article Inspection?
First Article Inspection (FAI) is the formal quality gate before mass production begins. The first production part — or a small sample from the first run — is fully measured and documented against your engineering drawing. If FAI passes, you release production. If it fails, problems are caught before thousands of non-conforming parts are made.
Dimensional Inspection
Every critical dimension on your drawing is measured with calibrated instruments — CMM, 2D VMM, or precision gauges. Actual values recorded against nominal + tolerance.
Material Certification
Mill certificates or MTRs verify alloy, grade, and mechanical properties. Chemical composition + hardness test included. Critical for castings, forgings, and structural parts.
Visual & Surface Finish
Surface roughness Ra, coating thickness, color (L*a*b*), burrs, and cosmetic standards documented. Boundary samples established for ongoing production reference.
Complete FAI Report Contents
Dolphin Audit × FAI: Pre-Screened Before You Ask
Every factory in our network has passed Dewin's 50-point Dolphin Audit. The audit's Quality Management pillar specifically evaluates FAI and PPAP readiness — inspection equipment, calibration records, and documentation capability. You're not guessing which factories can do FAI. We already know.
| Dolphin Audit Pillar | Score | FAI Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| ⚙️Equipment & Machinery | Up to 20 pts | Machine accuracy, tooling condition, repeatability baseline for dimensional FAI results |
| 🔍Quality Management | Up to 20 pts | CMM/VMM/gauge availability, calibration records, inspection procedure documentation, FAI/PPAP experience |
| 📋Management & Organization | Up to 20 pts | Engineering drawing control, change notification process, PSW/FAI sign-off authority, documentation retention |
| 📦Capacity & Delivery | Up to 20 pts | Capacity to produce first-article sample lot (minimum recommended 3–30 pcs depending on process), FAI lead time |
| 🏅Compliance & Certifications | Up to 20 pts | ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 compliance (documentation culture), material traceability, COO records for FTA compliance |
Inspection Equipment at Our Vietnam Factories
We document every factory's metrology equipment during the Dolphin Audit visit — with photos. Here's what's available across our 179+ audited network:
3D CMM — Coordinate Measuring Machine
Full GD&T inspection, Cpk studies for PPAP, FAI with tightest tolerances (±0.005mm)
e.g. NAPEC, Huynh Duc
2D VMM — Video Measuring Machine
Non-contact optical measurement, ±0.001mm accuracy, efficient for flat and profiled features
e.g. HDP, Hirata Precision
Color Comparison Machine
L*a*b* colorimetry, delta-E measurement, color FAI records for plastics/powder coat/anodize
e.g. Ming Chuan Electronic
Hardness Tester (Rockwell/Brinell)
Material grade verification, heat treatment confirmation, FAI hardness records per spec
e.g. Lidovit Trading
Profilometer (Surface Roughness)
Ra/Rz measurement per ISO 1302, machined and ground surface verification for FAI
e.g. Available across 60+ CNC factories
Coating Thickness Gauge
Plating, anodize, powder coat, and paint thickness per spec for FAI surface finish section
e.g. Surface treatment suppliers
3rd-Party Lab Network: For parts requiring NIST-traceable calibration, spectrometer chemical analysis, salt spray (corrosion), tensile/impact testing, or specialized NDE, Dewin coordinates with ISO 17025-accredited third-party labs in Vietnam's industrial zones. Results folded into your FAI package.
How Dewin Manages FAI On the Ground
Our team doesn't manage FAI by email. We're at the factory, instrument in hand.
Factory Selection — Pre-Screened for FAI Capability
We match your part to an audited factory with the right process + the inspection equipment to back it up. Dolphin Audit Quality pillar score tells us which factories can produce compliant FAI reports before your order is placed.
Balloon Drawing & Inspection Plan
Dewin engineers review your drawing and create a balloon-numbered bubble drawing identifying every critical dimension to be measured. Inspection method assigned per feature: CMM, VMM, caliper, optical comparator.
On-Site First Article Production Witness
Our on-ground team is physically present during first article production and inspection. We verify instrument calibration, witness the measurement, document results, and photograph the process — timestamped, geotagged.
Material Certification & Traceability
MTR/mill cert collected from raw material supplier. Alloy, grade, chemical composition, and hardness verified against your spec. Heat treatment records for structural parts. Lot number and traceability chain documented.
FAI Report Compilation & Buyer Review
Complete FAI package compiled: dimensional report, material cert, surface finish data, process notes, and photographs. Dewin reviews before sending to you. No raw factory data dumps — a clean, buyer-ready report.
FTA Documentation for Global Buyers
Vietnam's 16+ Free Trade Agreements (CPTPP, EVFTA, RCEP, UKVFTA and others) mean significant tariff reduction for buyers in 60+ countries. Our team prepares Certificate of Origin (Form B for CPTPP, EUR.1 for EVFTA) to maximise your FTA savings alongside the FAI package.
Dewin-Managed FAI vs Unverified Vietnam Supplier
What you actually get when you source without on-ground verification:
| FAI Factor | ✅ Dewin-Managed | ❌ Unverified Supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection equipment | Verified with calibration cert on-site | Unknown — factory says they have it |
| Dimensional report | Actual CMM/VMM measurements, all features | Selective dimensions, potentially estimated |
| Material cert | Original MTR with chemistry + hardness | Photo of cert (authenticity not verified) |
| On-site witness | Dewin team physically present | You trust the email they send you |
| Problem response | On-ground team re-inspects same day | Email exchange, 12h time zone gap |
| FTA documentation | COO prepared and legally compliant | Certificate of Origin risk if audited |
| PPAP capability | Full package if required by your quality system | Factory may never have done PPAP |
| Drawing revision control | Dewin confirms correct rev used | Old drawing risk if factory archives poorly |
FAI by Manufacturing Process
CNC Precision Machining
60+ factoriesTight tolerance dimensional FAI (±0.01mm typical). CMM preferred for complex GD&T. Bubble drawing per ASME Y14.5. Material cert for steel/aluminum alloy.
Aluminum Die Casting
30+ factoriesDimensional FAI for cast features + machined datums. Porosity visual inspection. Wall thickness. Chemical analysis from melt log. Hardness after T6 heat treatment.
Injection Molding (Plastic)
25+ factories2D VMM or CMM for dimensional. Color comparison machine (delta-E) for color-critical parts. Gate vestige, sink, warp, flash inspection. Mold cavity ID traceability.
Sheet Metal Fabrication
35+ factoriesBend angle (±0.5°), formed dimensions, hole location, weld quality (if applicable). First-off from each die stage. Coating thickness for plated/powder-coated parts.
Metal Stamping
20+ factoriesProgressive die: first-off sample from each stage. Burr height, hole diameter and position, blank flatness. Tool wear baseline at FAI. Plating/surface finish.
Forging
15+ factoriesHardness test required (verifies forging temperature and heat treatment). Material MTR for bar stock. CMM for machined features post-forge. Grain flow documentation for structural.
FAI + FTA: Double the Value for Global Buyers
FAI confirms your part is right. FTA documentation confirms your tariff rate is right. Dewin handles both.
FAI FAQ
Can Vietnam factories provide First Article Inspection reports?
How does Dewin's Dolphin Audit relate to FAI readiness?
What inspection equipment is available at Dewin's Vietnam factories?
How does Dewin handle FAI documentation delivery to global buyers?
Ready to Source with Full FAI Documentation?
179+ audited factories. On-ground inspection team. CMM and VMM equipment. FTA documentation included. This is what professional Vietnam sourcing looks like.