Agree the purpose and boundary of FAT
FAT confirms the contracted equipment against the agreed specification before delivery. It does not replace site acceptance testing, where utilities, line interfaces and the real production environment are verified.
Use representative production samples
The sample set should cover normal dimensional, surface, cavity and supplier variation. The customer and supplier should agree who provides parts, quantity, condition and deadline.
- All approved component variants and revisions
- Normal production finish, oil, static and packaging condition
- Known difficult but acceptable parts within tolerance
- Enough quantity for the agreed runtime and refill sequence
Write objective pass criteria
Phrases such as “runs well” are not measurable. Define the accepted presentation, sustained output, test duration, inspection requirement, damage limit and permitted interventions.
| Output | Accepted parts per minute at the agreed hand-off. |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Required pose and any permitted rotational freedom. |
| Quality | Marking, deformation, contamination or other agreed defect limits. |
| Interventions | What counts as normal refill, adjustment, jam clearance or failure. |
| Availability | Allowed stops and recovery method during the test period. |
Test the complete operating sequence
Include startup, normal running, hopper replenishment, track-full behaviour, downstream pause, restart, empty condition and fault recovery. Where possible, use the representative receiving nest, gripper or interface.
Verify controls, safety and diagnostics within scope
Check operator controls, recipes, alarms, sensor functions, interlocks, I/O and agreed safety functions. Record exclusions where the wider machine or site safety system is supplied by others.
Record settings and evidence
The report should identify the tested parts, equipment configuration, settings, elapsed time, output, rejects, interventions, outstanding actions and customer acceptance status. Photos or video can support the record but should not replace measured data.
Plan the transition from FAT to SAT
Before shipment, identify what remains to be proven after installation: utilities, line controls, guarding interfaces, upstream and downstream equipment, site access, production materials and operator training.
Frequently asked questions
Is FAT the same as a feeder trial?
No. An early feeder trial helps select and develop the concept. FAT verifies the manufactured system against the agreed specification before delivery.
How long should a feeder FAT run?
The duration should be long enough to expose normal refill, recirculation, queue and stop/start behaviour. It depends on the application and should be agreed in advance.
Who supplies parts for FAT?
The contract should state the sample quantity, component revisions, delivery date, ownership and responsibility for replenishment.
What happens if the feeder fails FAT?
The parties should record the failure against the criterion, agree corrective action and define whether a repeat or partial retest is required.