# Core Aerospace Controls: What "Implemented" Looks Like

## First article inspection (8.5.1.3, AS9102)

| When | Full FAI on the first production run; partial or full FAI after a change in design, process, tooling, location, source, NC program, or a lapse in production (typically 2 years) |
|------|------|
| Content | Ballooned drawing; Form 1 part accountability, Form 2 materials, special processes and functional tests (with certificates), Form 3 every characteristic with actual results |
| Pass | Every characteristic conforming; nonconformities resolved before the FAI is complete |

## Configuration management (8.1.2)

Configuration identification (part numbers, revisions, effectivity), change control (who approves which class of
change; customer approval for major changes), status accounting (as-designed vs as-built), configuration audits.
Evidence: change board records, as-built lists, drawing revision on traveller matches the PO.

## Counterfeit prevention (8.1.4)

| Element | Evidence |
|---------|----------|
| Policy and training | Training records for buyers, receiving, stores |
| Sourcing | Buy from OEMs or authorized distributors; risk assessment for others; flow-down to suppliers |
| Verification | Certificates of conformance with traceability to the OEM; inspection / testing for higher-risk sources |
| Control | Quarantine and report suspect parts (GIDEP, ERAI, customer); never return suspect parts to the supply chain |

## FOD prevention (8.5.1, 8.5.4)

FOD-critical areas defined; tool control (shadow boards, tool counts); housekeeping and "clean as you go";
inspection points for foreign objects; FOD awareness training; FOD incident reporting and trending. NAS 412 /
AS9146 give the structure.

## Special processes (8.5.1.2)

Qualified procedures, qualified equipment, qualified personnel, process parameter records, periodic
revalidation, and customer or NADCAP approval where required. Outsourced special processes must use approved
sources and their certificates are verified.

## Operational risk and product safety (8.1.1, 8.1.3)

Risk register at operations level (schedule, capacity, single sources, key characteristics, new processes) with
mitigations and acceptance decisions; product safety process with critical items list, safety-related events
reporting, and safety culture training.

## On-time delivery

Measured against the customer's required date, reported monthly, reviewed at management review (9.3.2), with
actions for misses. Many primes rate suppliers on OTD and quality in their scorecards; low scores trigger
corrective action or probation.