The quality assurance process for manufacturing requires attention to detail.

First Article Inspection (FAI) is a leading process involving the inspection and testing of products in the early stages of production. The AS9100 quality management system describes the details required to complete this process.

One portion of the AS9100 process inspection plan – AS9102 – plays an important role in describing the details for FAI requirements in the aerospace industry.

This article will examine AS9102 in detail, outline the differences between the original document and its revision form, and highlight the role it plays in ensuring products are manufactured to specifications and quality standards.

What is the AS9102 Quality Management System?

Manufacturing and quality in the aviation, space and defense industries are regulated by AS9100 (EN9100 is a similar designation outlining the same protocols) under the governance of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). 

Developed in 2004 by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), this standard for FAI requirements was intended to improve the production process and organization of the multiple required forms to negate non-conformance.  


By producing AS9102 documentation as part of a first article inspection report (FAIR), the supplier and customer are able to thoroughly review and evaluate the manufacturing process for accountability and planning. In addition, periodic surveillance and audits may be performed to evaluate root causes and take corrective action for non-conformance issues that may arise during the manufacturing process.

To reduce the likelihood of these reviews – and to ensure the production of parts vital to aerospace industry products protect human passengers and crew– the AS9102 inspection article requires completeness and accuracy. Although aerospace AS9102 compliance isn’t a standard regulatory requirement, it is frequently adopted by manufacturers in the industry as it greatly enhances the efficiency of the part inspection and documentation process.

In October 2014, AS9102 was superseded by AS9012 Rev B (or AS9102B) to further ensure the FAI process is completed to standard.

As outlined by 4.7.1.d of AS9102B, the older forms of what is now dubbed AS9102 Rev A (or AS9102A) are still acceptable, provided the instructions associated with the latest revision are followed. 

Understanding the Difference Between AS9012 Rev A and Rev B

The major difference between AS9102 Rev A and Rev B is the latter’s inclusion of Digital Product Design (DPD). When design requirements are formatted in DPD and 2D drawing information is not available for all design requirements, DPD design characteristics are extracted and verified, and may be implemented in the FAI report.

3D characteristic accountability is the major element Rev B adds to the AS9102 quality management system, as the extraction of data for inspection and verification is allowed to be viewed in both 2 and 3D. This addition provides significant insights relevant to Section 3 of the Standard, in the Applicable 3D Documents section, which references 3D/DPD. This inclusion allows for the direct reference of 3D modeling information to be packaged in the standard, in either dimensional or textual format.

This section also references a specific design characteristic that is present on 3D models and can be for information only and typically not tolerance. Characteristics not defined on 2D drawings can also be extracted from the 3D model, allowing tolerances for nominal dimensions.

The final significant difference between AS9102 Rev A and B involves the extraction process from 3D data. In order to ensure the inspection of 3D model dimensions is completed to specification, these dimensions require the same measuring, inspection, testing and verification procedures as 2D drawings. 

Aside from minor terminology changes to the three forms of inspection that comprise AS9102 documentation (Part Number Accountability, Product Accountability and Characteristic Accountability), there are no further major deviations between versions.

Why Your Business Needs AS9102

AS9102 provides the ability to isolate a problem and work toward a solution without affecting the performance or productivity of your business. The documents contained within AS9102 provide detailed information that allows you to troubleshoot compliance issues that arise during the manufacturing process. 

This clear line-of-sight can reduce delays associated with identifying problematic components or elements of production, making AS9102 a vital component of first article inspection for many companies.

There are several advantages to companies adhering to SAE standards, including: 

  • AS9102 outlines when in the manufacturing process inspection must be performed. 
  • AS9012 provides a veritable “stamp of approval,” letting customers know that a manufacturer is capable of producing high-quality parts and components.
  • AS9102 identifies defective parts that have issues or don’t meet the necessary compliance standards.
  • AS9102 clarifies which components of the production part are required for FAI as well as what verifications and inspections are necessary.
  • AS9102 outlines how FAI is documented and provides the necessary forms to do so.

DISCUS FAI Solutions

DISCUS solutions enable your business to organize the characteristic accountability of required parts in an efficient, productivity-increasing manner. Our services and products are specifically designed to aid in the AS9012 first article inspection process.

To ensure AS9102 compliance, DISCUS Excel Validator is formatted specifically for Rev B. Once activated, DISCUS will navigate your data and flag any potential compliance issues. Built-in checks will then prevent the export of a document to Excel until the flagged inconsistencies are resolved.

Trust DISCUS to consolidate and organize the information required to complete FAI. DISCUS Desktop reduces the time it takes to produce the elements of a First Article Inspection – AS9102 as well as Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and Part 820 by 50% to 80% thanks to 2D PDF and TIFF Auto Ballooning. This comprehensive, customizable solution enables you to use the same process for all of your customers, negating the productivity lulls associated with re-formatting documents to suit the needs of various clients.

Partnering with DISCUS ensures that any further customer-specific formatting requirements can be uploaded to your internal inspection sheets, confirming supplier variations and other significant details are captured in one easy-to-navigate platform. 

When it comes to navigating the intricacies essential to authorize the safety of aviation, space and defense industry parts and components, DISCUS works diligently alongside you. Our products, services and solutions are tailored to match the manufacturing and quality management needs of your company. DISCUS provides solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency without compromising the attention to detail so vital to the first article inspection process.

To learn more about how DISCUS can enhance your AS9102 compliance efforts, contact us today.