Why does the purchase order change the FAIR?
The drawing tells you what to measure. The purchase order tells you which drawing revision, which spec revisions, which processors, which form fields and when the FAIR has to ship. Most shops open the drawing first and start ballooning. The clauses that decide whether that FAIR gets accepted are usually on the PO, or in the customer quality document the PO references.
That is why a FAIR can be dimensionally perfect and still be rejected. Wrong revision levels, unapproved special processors and missing form data are among the most common reasons a FAIR gets sent back (GroundControl).
Below are seven kinds of PO clauses that change the first article before anyone places a balloon. Use them as a starting checklist for your own PO review, and add the clauses your customers use most.
Seven PO clauses that change the FAIR
Each clause below follows the same pattern: what it usually looks like on the PO or in the quality manual the PO references, what it changes on the AS9102 FAIR, and what to settle before anyone opens the drawing. Wording varies by customer, so treat these as categories to look for, not exact text.
1. Part number and drawing revision
On the PO: Part number, dash number, drawing or model revision, and sometimes a PO revision that changed one of them.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 1 part number, revision and drawing fields, and which drawing you balloon.
Before you balloon: Confirm the drawing in hand matches the PO revision and is released. If the PO calls a revision you don't have, ask the buyer before starting.
2. Specification revision rule
On the PO: A note on which revision of referenced specs applies. Some customers use the revision in effect on the order date. Others use the latest revision unless the PO says otherwise.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 2 material and special process certs must cite the spec revision the PO allows, and a cert to AMS 2700 Rev E against a drawing calling Rev F is a finding.
Before you balloon: Record which rule applies and tell your material supplier and processors which revision to certify to.
3. FAI requirement and scope
On the PO: A clause requiring an FAI, often on the first unit of each line item. Some customers also require a repeat FAI when the PO specifies one, source inspection, or customer acceptance of the first article before production ships.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 1 full or partial FAI and the stated reason.
Before you balloon: Set full, partial or delta scope from the PO, not from whether you have made the part before. Confirm scope with the customer in writing when the PO is unclear.
4. Special processes and approved sources
On the PO: A requirement that heat treat, plating, welding, NDT and similar processes go to sources the customer has approved. These are often NADCAP accredited and sometimes limited to the customer's own list.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 2 special process entries and certs.
Before you balloon: Check every processor on the router against that customer's list. A cert from an unapproved processor is a common FAIR rejection cause.
5. Raw material and specialty metals
On the PO: DFARS 252.225-7009 or a foreign material clause. Under 7009, specialty metals such as certain steels, nickel and cobalt alloys, titanium and zirconium must be melted or produced in the US, its outlying areas or a qualifying country. The clause also flows to subcontracts.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 2 material certs, which may need to show melt origin.
Before you balloon: Pull the mill cert for the heat you plan to use and confirm melt origin before you cut material.
6. Key characteristics
On the PO: A requirement to identify key or critical characteristics, demonstrate process capability on them, or flow them to sub-tier suppliers.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 3 entries for those features, plus the PFMEA or control plan if the PO requires one.
Before you balloon: List the designated characteristics from the drawing and the PO, assign a measurement method to each, and send them to any sub-tier that machines or finishes those features.
7. FAIR format, fields and submission
On the PO: A customer FAIR template or field instructions, a portal submission, extra Form 1 entries such as the PO revision or the PO quality clauses, and a rule on whether the FAIR ships with the first part.
Changes on the FAIR: Form 1 fields and the package you deliver.
Before you balloon: Get the customer's template, instructions and portal access first, so the FAIR is built in the right format the first time.
Conclusion
Ballooning is where most FAI work starts, but the PO decides whether that work gets accepted. Reading the quality clauses first takes minutes. Finding a revision or processor problem after the FAIR is built can mean redoing Form 2, chasing new certs or resubmitting the package.
GroundControl connects both steps. PO Review checks an incoming PO against your quote and your own checklist, including FAIR, cert and portal requirements, and cites each finding back to the source clause. GroundControl's FAI software then auto-balloons the drawing, imports CMM results into Form 3 and flags missing evidence and revision mismatches before the FAIR reaches your customer.
