Factory acceptance testing in China: agree the evidence before shipment
Editorial illustration
GURI Journal · Published 31 October 2026
“FAT passed” is meaningful only when the parties agree what was tested. A machine may run successfully without the buyer's material, omit an optional module that is actually necessary for the project, or achieve a target speed only under conditions that will not exist at the destination. The label cannot resolve those differences after the event.
GURI treats factory acceptance testing as a defined decision stage. Before the equipment is packed, the buyer needs evidence of the agreed factory requirements, a record of deviations and a clear list of matters reserved for the installation site. That requires preparation before the inspector arrives.
Define the equipment and the configuration
Identify the machine, serial or project references, included modules and relevant software version. For a line, define which interfaces and combined functions are within the test boundary. A demonstration unit should not silently stand in for the equipment being purchased.
List the final drawings and specifications used for acceptance. If the supplier has changed a component, resolve the approval status before treating the machine as ready. A substitute described as an upgrade still needs to be evaluated against the agreed requirements.
Establish who performs the tests, who witnesses them and who can decide how a deviation is handled. Qualified personnel should operate the equipment under an appropriate safe procedure. A buyer's representative attending the test does not automatically become an authorised operator.
Turn requirements into testable criteria
For each important requirement, specify the method, conditions, evidence and acceptance criterion. Avoid vague entries such as “good output” or “normal operation”. The programme should allow two competent reviewers to understand why a result was accepted.
Performance needs a defined basis. Specify the material, format, operating mode and quality requirements associated with the output figure. Decide how setup, interruptions and rejected product are recorded where they affect the agreed evaluation.
SGS's description of FAT includes functionality, completeness, contractual requirements and documentation. These categories help frame the scope, but they do not supply a universal test protocol for every machine. The project team must define the relevant checks.
Prepare the materials and supporting systems
Agree who supplies test material, tooling, consumables and measuring equipment. Confirm quantity and suitability before the visit. Material needed for setup and repeat runs should be considered alongside the amount required for the planned observations.
If a substitute material or simulated condition will be used, identify the limitation in advance. It may be reasonable for part of the programme, but the conclusion should say what the substitution allows the team to establish and what remains unproven.
Check the utilities and auxiliary equipment used in the test. A demonstration supported by an extra cooling, feeding or extraction system may depend on resources outside the quoted supply. Resolve whether those resources will be available at the buyer's site and who is responsible for them.
Record results, not just a verdict
Use separate statuses for a satisfactory result, a deviation and a test that was not performed. An unavailable facility is not evidence that a requirement has been met. Record the reason and the agreed next step for every untested item.
Tie photographs, video and measurement records to particular test entries. A large image folder can be impressive while leaving a crucial parameter undocumented. Instrumental results need the relevant measurement information, not a photograph of an operator looking at a display.
Keep the conditions behind the result. If a setting was changed between runs, or a part was adjusted to achieve the criterion, record that history. It helps the buyer understand the final configuration and reproduce the approved operating condition later.
Assess deviations before closing them
A useful deviation record identifies the issue, affected requirement, proposed correction, owner and evidence needed for closure. “Will fix before packing” is a commitment to act, not proof that the action has been completed.
Consider the wider effect of a correction. Replacing a control component may require more than repeating the single failed check. The extent of retesting should follow the consequences of the change, as assessed by competent specialists.
Do not accept bypassed protective functions as a route to a performance target or a clearer video. Safety and applicable conformity requirements need their own competent assessment. A commercial agreement about price or timing cannot establish that an unsafe condition is acceptable.
Remote witnessing has a defined scope
Agree how the viewer will identify the machine, observe important operations and receive measurement data. A live session can be useful, but it has limits of camera coverage, continuity and access to physical evidence. State those limits in the record.
For a hypothetical inspection, the buyer might see the correct output but be unable to verify the incoming material or the machine identity. The result is incomplete evidence, not necessarily a failed machine. The response is to obtain the missing confirmation through an appropriate method.
Carry the findings into shipment and installation
Factory testing does not reproduce every destination condition. Site acceptance addresses the installed system and its local interfaces; Minebea Intec distinguishes these stages in its guidance on FAT and SAT. Industry-specific qualification requirements should also be considered where applicable, without assuming that FAT replaces them.
Define outstanding site checks with their conditions, responsible parties and agreed consequences. Keep them in the commissioning plan rather than leaving them in an appendix that nobody reviews after shipping.
Finally, connect the tested configuration to the shipment. If the machine is dismantled, identify the parts and preserve the information needed for reassembly. The acceptance record should enable the buyer to follow the same equipment from factory testing through packing to installation, with any intervening changes visible and addressed.