FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing)
Introduction- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) is a test performed for newly manufactured and packaged equipment by the vendor prior to shipping to ensure the equipment meets its intended purpose. This optional test is performed once the design and fabrication of the equipment are complete following approved test plans as agreed with the client. The FAT ensures that the equipment meets all the client requirements as mentioned in the purchase order specifications.
Purpose of FAT- The Factory Acceptance Test guarantees that the equipment is complying with all the requirements and are ready to be commissioned without any problem. This test is performed at the factory and is beneficial for both the end-users and the manufacturer. Any functional issues are identified before the equipment leaves the factory premise and can easily be rectified by the manufacturer. Thus FAT helps in controlling the project timeline and cost.
Even though, FAT is optional, it must not be skipped. If any problem is found after the equipment is installed, it may result in costly shutdowns. So, a factory acceptance test provides a number of other benefits like:
Usually the following things are addressed during a FAT: