1.0 Function
The bridge between engineering requirements and inspection activity
A drawing states what the product must be. It does not state how anyone confirms it, with what, how often, or against what acceptance limit once measurement uncertainty is taken into account. That gap is where inconsistent inspection comes from: two inspectors, two methods, two results, one argument.
The inspection plan closes it by making the method a decision that was made once, deliberately, by someone who looked at the tolerance, the feature, the datum scheme and the equipment actually available.
How characteristics become a plan
Extraction
Every requirement on the drawing, in referenced specifications and in the contract is identified — dimensional, geometric, material, process, finish, marking, packaging. Notes are requirements too, and they are the ones most often missed.
Method selection
Each characteristic is assigned a method that can actually resolve it. Tolerance against gauge discrimination, feature accessibility, fixturing, datum establishment, part deflection, surface condition and throughput all constrain what is realistic.
Sampling and frequency
Set against risk, criticality, process stability, run length and customer requirements — and stated in a way that survives contact with a production schedule.
Acceptance and reaction
What constitutes conformance, and what happens when a result falls outside it, including who is notified and what is done with the parts already produced.
AiroQue develops inspection planning documentation. AiroQue does not provide First Article Inspection services.
- Deliverable
- Inspection plan covering the characteristics in scope, with methods, equipment, sampling and acceptance criteria
- Typical inputs
- Drawing or model, referenced specifications, routing, gauge and equipment list, customer inspection requirements
- Formats
- Tabular plan, drawing-referenced plan, in-process and final split, or content for your ERP or inspection software
- Starting price
- $750
- Scales with
- Characteristic count, GD&T complexity, number of inspection points, specification depth
- Coordinates with
- Control Plans and Special Characteristics
- Revision support
- Updated on drawing revision, method change or equipment change
2.0 Content
What the plan defines
Per characteristic
- Characteristic identification and reference
- Drawing requirement and location
- Specification requirement where referenced
- Inspection method
- Measurement equipment and fixturing
- Sampling frequency and sample size
- Acceptance criteria
- Special-characteristic designation where applicable
Across the process
- In-process inspection points and their purpose
- Final inspection content
- Documentation and record requirements
- Reaction requirements on nonconformance
- Equipment calibration dependencies
- Handling of characteristics verified by outside processors
- Characteristics verified by process control rather than measurement
3.0 Tailoring
Numbering, structure and wording set by your inspection group
Inspection documentation is used under time pressure by people who did not write it. It has to match the conventions they already know.
Written for the people executing it
AiroQue asks how your inspectors work before deciding how the plan is laid out — what they read first, what they record, and where the plan sits relative to the traveller and the drawing.
Characteristic numbering
Follows your existing balloon or characteristic numbering convention, your customer's required scheme, or an operation-based scheme — so references match across the drawing, plan and records.
Structure
One consolidated plan, separate in-process and final plans, plans issued per operation, or a plan keyed to a marked-up drawing, depending on how your inspection is organized.
Method detail level
Method named only, or with setup, datum establishment and fixturing described — heavier where the measurement is difficult or has caused disputes before.
Equipment references
Generic equipment types, or specific gauge identification numbers tied to your calibration system, if you want the plan to enforce which gauge is used.
Output format
Excel, PDF, a form matching your inspection records, or structured content for entry into your ERP or inspection software.
Terminology
Your names for departments, stations, gauges and record forms, so nothing has to be mentally translated at the bench.
Inspection plans and AS9102 First Article Inspection
An inspection plan and a First Article Inspection are different things. First Article Inspection under AS9102 is performed and documented by your organization or your supplier. AiroQue does not perform FAI or produce FAI reports.
A complete inspection plan, with every drawing, specification and contract characteristic listed, gives your inspectors the characteristic list that First Article and ongoing inspection work from. Characteristics designated as key under AS9103 carry their monitoring and reaction requirements into the plan.
4.0 Adjacent services
Related documents
Send a drawing and the gauge list
AiroQue will identify the characteristic count, flag any requirement that will be difficult to measure with what you have, and quote the plan.
FAQ
Common questions
What goes into an inspection plan?
Every characteristic from the drawing, referenced specifications and contract, with the inspection method, equipment, sampling, acceptance criteria and reaction requirements for each.
Do you perform First Article Inspection?
No. AiroQue prepares the inspection plan; First Article Inspection (AS9102) is performed and documented by your organization or your supplier. A complete inspection plan gives your inspectors the characteristic list to work from.
How much does an inspection plan cost?
Inspection plans start at $750. Scope is reviewed before a fixed price is issued.