Direct answer
Run FAT against a pre-agreed protocol using real product, with quantified pass criteria and a formal deviation list linked to a payment milestone.
What this discipline delivers
- Protocol agreed and signed before the test
- Real product and materials used, not surrogates
- Throughput, quality and changeover measured
- Safety functions and alarms exercised
- Documentation and spares reviewed
Method and stages
Performance testing
Sustained run at rate measuring output, quality and stoppages.
Functional testing
Modes, sequences, alarms, recovery and interlocks.
Safety verification
Each safety function tested and recorded.
Documentation review
Drawings, schematics, manuals, spare list and code delivery.
Engineering and project considerations
- Supplier-provided surrogate product invalidates the test
- Test duration must be long enough to reveal micro-stops
- Attendance by operations and maintenance, not procurement alone
- Deviations classified by severity with agreed closure dates
- Conditional acceptance should be explicit about what remains open
What to prepare before engaging engineering companies
- Agreed FAT protocol with quantified criteria
- Sufficient real product and packaging materials shipped to the supplier
- Attendance list and travel plan
- Payment milestone definition tied to FAT outcome
What to measure
Frequently asked questions
How long should a FAT run?
Long enough to observe stability — commonly several hours of continuous production, with changeovers included for high-mix equipment.
Related engineering knowledge
Engineering Knowledge
Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
Engineering Knowledge
Industrial Testing
Engineering Knowledge
Industrial Commissioning
Solution Domain
Special Purpose Machines (SPM)
Engineering Knowledge
Custom Machine Development
Buyer Decision Brief
What To Prepare Before Contacting Engineering Companies
Independent, buyer-side and supplier-neutral
Global B2B Group does not sell machines and does not represent equipment manufacturers. This material is published to help industrial organisations define the problem, prepare the specification and structure the investment before engineering partners are selected.