Use a first-article plan to connect the released design with observable acceptance evidence before a larger assembly run proceeds.
State the purpose of the first article
A first article is an opportunity to check that the intended configuration has been built and that important manufacturing questions are resolved. Its scope should be agreed before the sample is produced. Otherwise, a photograph of the completed board can be mistaken for evidence of requirements that were never examined.
Define whether the review concerns a new design, a revised assembly, a changed component or a new manufacturing arrangement. The trigger helps determine which features and records need particular attention.
Connect each requirement to a check
| Requirement | Possible evidence to specify |
|---|---|
| Correct configuration | Board identification, BOM revision and fitted variant. |
| Component orientation | Recorded comparison against the assembly drawing. |
| Mechanical fit | Measurements or trial fit against the controlled interface. |
| Programming | Image identifier and programming verification result. |
| Function | Results from the approved test procedure. |
Choose evidence appropriate to the requirement. A visual check can establish an observable orientation but cannot by itself establish the electrical behavior of an inaccessible joint or the complete product.
Prepare the review record
Identify the specimen, release files, reviewer and inspection date. Provide space for the observed result, requirement reference and disposition. Keep photographs associated with their feature or issue instead of attaching a large unlabelled image collection.
For example, if a connector position controls enclosure fit, record the relevant datum and result. A statement that the board “looks good” does not explain whether the mating requirement was checked.
Handle exceptions before release
Classify an issue by the decision needed: correction of the sample, correction of the production instruction, acceptance of a limited deviation or a design change. Name the owner and decide which checks must be repeated after the correction.
Do not treat silence as approval. If production is waiting on first-article acceptance, define the person or role authorized to release it and keep the decision with the records.
Carry the result into repeat production
Update the controlled assembly and test instructions with accepted corrections. Identify any fixture or program changes and retain the revision used. The first-article record should help the next build reproduce the approved configuration, rather than remain a one-time report disconnected from manufacturing.
See the inspection overview and assembly handoff checklist to connect this plan with the rest of the release package.
Move from reading to a build-ready project
Use the fabrication and assembly checklists to prepare drawings, production files and test requirements.
Open the DFM checklist