Background
What a first article inspection report has to deliver
When a supplier starts producing a new part, the customer wants proof that it meets the drawing — for every single characteristic. That proof is the first article inspection report, known in German-speaking industry as the EMPB. In automotive it is governed by VDA Volume 2 and PPAP, in aerospace by AS9102; the underlying structure is the same everywhere.
So that nominal and measured values can be matched up, every drawing characteristic needs a unique number. That numbering is called stamping or ballooning: next to every dimension, tolerance, GD&T frame and surface specification sits a numbered balloon. The same number reappears later in the characteristic list, the inspection plan and the measurement record.
On a drawing with 150 characteristics that is half a day of blunt work — and the most error-prone point in the whole process. A missed tolerance often only surfaces when the customer rejects the report.
Where it fits in
The half day of work that disappears up front
DrawingStamp Pro takes over exactly the step between customer drawing and inspection planning — the one still done by hand with a mouse and keyboard almost everywhere.
Detect characteristics
Dimensions, ISO tolerances, GD&T symbols and surface specifications are found in the drawing — directly in vector PDFs, via the built-in text recognition in scans.
Number in sequence
Inspection stamps are placed cleanly and numbered consecutively. Starting number, size and colour follow whatever your customer requires.
Output the characteristic list
Number, nominal value, tolerance and characteristic type land in your process as an Excel file — the columns the inspection report needs anyway.
On to CAQ and metrology
The characteristic list moves on to your CAQ system or coordinate measuring machine. The measured values — in Q-DAS format, for instance — come back from there and meet the same numbers.
Old customer drawings too
Scanned PDFs and TIFF files without a text layer are prepared by text recognition. DWG and DXF files can be imported without a CAD program installed.
The drawing stays in-house
Detection runs entirely on your own machine. For customer drawings under NDA that is often the condition under which a tool may be used at all.
Scope
What this software does — and what it does not
DrawingStamp Pro is not a CAQ system and does not want to replace one. It does the first step thoroughly so everything after it builds on clean data.
DrawingStamp Pro handles this
- Detect drawing characteristics and number them sequentially
- Ballooned drawing as a PDF
- Characteristic list with nominal values and tolerances as Excel
- Corrections and markup directly on the drawing
This stays with your system
- Completed VDA, PPAP or AS9102 forms
- Managing sampling processes and approvals
- Capturing measured values and managing gauges
- Supplier portals and approval workflows
If you are looking for a complete sampling system, a CAQ vendor is the right address. If you want to fill the inspection plan straight from the drawing without re-typing 150 dimensions, you are in the right place — including alongside an existing CAQ system.
Frequently asked
Questions about FAI report software
What is FAI report software?
It describes programs that help with the first article inspection report — from marking up the drawing characteristics through inspection planning to the completed form. Two rather different things hide behind the term: full CAQ systems that manage the whole sampling process, and tools for the first step — stamping the drawing. DrawingStamp Pro is a tool of the second kind.
What is the difference between initial sampling and the inspection report?
Initial sampling is the process: a supplier demonstrates that it can produce a production part to specification under series conditions. The first article inspection report is the document that carries that proof — the compilation of all characteristics with nominal value, measured value and assessment.
Does DrawingStamp Pro produce a completed report form?
No. DrawingStamp Pro handles the step before that: it numbers the drawing characteristics, places the inspection stamps and delivers the characteristic list with nominal values and tolerances as an Excel file. The VDA, PPAP or AS9102 forms themselves are filled by your CAQ system or your own template — with data that no longer has to be re-typed.
Which standards does the numbering cover?
The characteristic numbering follows common ballooning practice as used around VDA Volume 2, PPAP, PPF, ISIR and AS9102. Numbering, stamp size and starting number can be adjusted to match your customer’s requirements.
Which drawings can I stamp for initial sampling?
Vector PDFs are read directly. Scanned PDFs and TIFF files without a text layer are prepared by the built-in text recognition first — with older customer drawings that is the normal case. DWG and DXF files can be imported as well, with no CAD program installed.
Guide on the blog: from drawing to finished inspection plan →
The next sampling without the re-typing.
DrawingStamp Pro is in daily use with beta users. Request your access and stamp your next customer drawing at the push of a button.