Global Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Services

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Services

As a leading provider of quality assurance solutions, Pro QC International offers Factory Acceptance Test services worldwide.

With over 40 years of expertise, we aim to solve client challenges and ensure equipment integrity. Pro QC has offices in Asia, the Americas, and Europe, as well as a global network of local QC engineers to ensure that our clients have the support they need.

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What Is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) ?

Starting up new, commonly industrial equipment, even with the assembly and start-up manuals to hand, can be challenging. A Factory Acceptance Test, or FAT, is a test performed by the manufacturer of a system or piece of equipment to ensure that it meets the requirements the customer specified and avoid the possibility that some critical components may fail. The test is typically conducted at the factory before shipment of the product.

A way to eliminate possible failures is to simulate operating and try failure modes that verify the system or component meets all functional and performance requirements. This includes verifying that the system or component works as intended, meets buyer-supplier contractual requirements, and meets all applicable safety and quality standards. A FAT also helps to identify, before shipment, any potential problems that could occur during operation of the system or equipment. And at the same time, it also will provide insights into good practices for a proper installation.

During a Factory Acceptance Test, inspectors conduct various tests on the system or equipment. These tests may include functional testing, performance testing, safety testing, and quality assurance testing. The specific tests conducted will depend on the customer’s requirements. Defining FAT criteria and planning and setting up the testing environment early in the project help to ensure success.

After all tests have been completed, analysts generate a report that documents the results of the Factory Acceptance Test service. The customer then reviews this report to ensure that they are satisfied with the results. If there are any issues with the system or equipment, they can be addressed before shipment and delivery instead of being discovered by the client. This eliminates on-site surprises and aligns with the rule of thumb that a defect discovered by a customer is ten times as costly as a defect discovered in-house. An effective FAT helps a client meet tight production timelines, respond to competitive pressures, and give buyers the performance they expect.

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Factory acceptance testing services help ensure that delivered equipment or systems are reliable, compliant with specifications and ready for successful deployment.

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Advantages of Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

Verify conformity with the contract

FAT helps to validate that a new system or piece of equipment meets requirements as specified in scoping early in the bidding process.

Verify conformance with all specifications

Components of great technical complexity will be required to follow an exhaustive protocol defined in the contract. Simpler equipment and systems will need less testing. Standards, drawings, regulations, and other predefined documents will all serve as references to test against.

Address functional issues before shipment

No one wants a “dumb mistake” to be shipped, especially when it is easily fixable. Some functional issues are only uncovered when the equipment is set up, plugged in and running. It is much more cost effective to fix these issues, which may or may not involve an actual specification, at the factory. This is a beneficial process for both the buyer and the seller

Identify quality issues at an early stage

FAT identifies potential issues that may need to be addressed before final installation. Common problems uncovered during FAT include quality and craftsmanship defects and improper labeling.

Forming a foundation for the client’s qualification and validation activities

An effective Factory Acceptance Test is often a requirement for the client’s qualification and validation and can provide valuable testing data for these later protocols and reports.

Avoid costly delays and rework

FAT helps avoid costly delays, returns, and rework once the system is installed onsite. Many issues can be solved immediately by the manufacturer.

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Pro QC’s Factory Acceptance Test Services

Pro QC conducts the FAT at the manufacturer’s factory to verify that the system or equipment meets specifications. We help clients ensure that the equipment will function as expected once it is installed at their site.

Four main types of tests are conducted during a FAT:

Visual inspection: This is the most common form of testing during a FAT. It involves examining the equipment to verify that it meets the required specifications.
Functional testing: This type of testing verifies that the equipment performs its intended functions.
Environmental testing: This type of testing verifies that the equipment can withstand the environmental conditions it will be subjected to once it is installed, such as extreme temperatures or humidity levels.
Safety testingThis type of testing verifies that the equipment meets safety standards and does not pose a risk to operators or bystanders.

The specific tests conducted during a FAT will vary depending on the type of equipment being tested. Regardless, some general steps should be followed when conducting any type of test:

Establish test criteria: Before starting any tests, it is important to establish what criteria need to be met for the test to be considered successful.
Prepare equipment:Once the criteria have been established, the equipment will be prepared for testing. This may involve making sure it is properly calibrated, setting up test fixtures, and so on.
Conduct tests: Once everything is ready, the actual tests will be conducted. Tests will be conducted according to a predefined protocol to eliminate ambiguity and provide solid pass/fail criteria or run-and-report guidance on each testing parameter.

Pro QC delivers the FAT report within 24 hours. The report includes all test points relevant to quality, all identified defects, and supporting photos. Our team is committed to providing solutions and support during your FAT process.

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