Integration desk · Factory acceptance
Accept Machinery Against the Written Scope, Not Its Appearance
A factory acceptance test should state what is available to test, which project materials will be used, what evidence is recorded and which conditions remain for the installation site. The protocol must trace back to the approved contract and technical documents.
Solve the production problem before buying more machinery
Use a measured symptom and a controlled retest to decide whether the next action is material correction, maintenance, interface work or a machine change.
Uneven fill levels or suspected underfill?
Define height, net mass or volume as the agreed result. Compare valve groups, bottle lots and startup phases before changing the filler or inspection threshold.
Uneven fill levels and underfillDIRECT ANSWER
What the buyer should decide
FAT is not an automatic guarantee of site output. It is a controlled opportunity to verify identity, workmanship, functions, project samples, alarms, documents, spares and open items within the agreed factory-test conditions.
| Decision field | Confirm | Why it changes the purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Before FAT | Approved scope, drawings, protocol and samples | Creates the acceptance basis |
| During FAT | Safety, dry/wet functions, interfaces and records | Tests observable requirements |
| After FAT | Open items, evidence, spares, preservation and release | Prevents unresolved issues from disappearing |
BUYER DECISION WORKBENCH
Agree the counting boundary before the machine runs
A FAT video is supporting evidence, not a complete acceptance record. Define the bottle and pack revision, materials, test conditions, observation window, count location and disposition of rejected or held units. A successful machine FAT does not establish final connected-site performance.
| Protocol field | Agree before testing | Retain after testing |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and configuration | Serial number, parts, recipes and approved drawings | As-tested revision list and departures |
| Time and output | Start/end, count point, units and planned exclusions | Counter readings, good units and separate rejects/holds |
| Stop handling | How interruptions and restarts are logged | Event log with reasons and responsible reviewer |
| Format coverage | Formats demonstrated and changeover checks | Evidence for each tested format; untested items open |
| Acceptance decision | Project-specific criteria and authorized witnesses | Pass, conditional acceptance or re-test with assigned actions |
Illustrative calculation only: 4,800 accepted bottles observed over 60 minutes equals 4,800 accepted bottles per hour for that test window. It is not a machine capacity claim. If counts are packs, record bottles per pack before conversion.
REQUIRED INPUTS
Prepare the evidence before selection
Missing fields should remain marked as open rather than converted into assumptions.
- Signed technical scope
- Approved drawings and BOM references
- Project bottles/caps/labels/pack materials
- Test utility and product limits
- Acceptance criteria
- Document and spare-part lists
TRADE-OFFS
Make the choice visible
Every option changes the machinery, operating work or project boundary.
Full-line FAT
Provides more interface evidence but may be limited by space, utilities and supplier scope.
Machine FAT
Confirms machine functions while leaving more site integration open.
Remote evidence
Can support review but does not equal an independent physical inspection.
PURCHASING RISKS
Do not let these gaps hide in the quotation
Carry every unresolved item into clarification and contract documents.
- Arriving without approved criteria
- Testing substitute materials without documenting limits
- Ignoring alarms and recovery
- Shipping with no controlled open-item list
WORK SEQUENCE
Move from data to a controlled next action
- 01
Freeze the protocol.
- 02
Confirm test materials and utilities.
- 03
Verify identity and documents.
- 04
Run safety, dry and wet checks.
- 05
Record results and open items.
- 06
Release only under the agreed process.
Technical descriptions are selection guidance. Final machine, capacity, material, component, interface, utility and service details must be confirmed in the project proposal.
Content reviewed:
NEXT PURCHASING ACTION
Prepare the acceptance record before the visit.
Use the checklist as a project-specific starting point, then attach contract criteria.