Service · Factory execution
Factory acceptance test in China (FAT)
When a China supplier says the equipment is ready, you need more than a 'test completed' email — you need witnessed results your team can use before release. Buyers ask for this in different words: someone to watch the machine being tested, a factory witness test, an engineer to attend on our behalf. In contracts it is the factory acceptance test, or FAT. Sinospect assigns the inspector, engineer or discipline specialist the scope requires to witness that test against your FAT protocol, ITP or specification, record observed results and measurements, and issue a signed FAT record — so you can approve release, hold the order or request corrections before the equipment leaves the factory. If a full FAT is overkill for your order, we'll tell you and recommend a standard pre-shipment inspection (PSI) instead.
- Buyer-side control point
- FAT hold point before equipment release
- Also called
- Factory witness test · witnessed factory test · FAT witnessing
- Working languages
- English · French · Mandarin
- Engagement role
- Buyer-direct witness, or Sinospect factory QC on a Sinospect-supplied order
- Where it runs
- Chinese supplier factories, test benches and FAT witness points
- Engagement output
- Witnessed FAT record, non-conformity log, corrective-action evidence and release recommendation
Send the file before the supplier fixes the test date.
We will confirm whether FAT is the right gate, what should be witnessed, and whether the assignment needs an inspector, engineer or discipline specialist. If the protocol or acceptance criteria are incomplete, the gaps are identified before anyone travels.
- What to send
- Specification, ITP or FAT protocol, equipment scope and supplier readiness
- Written response
- Right inspection tier, witness scope, missing inputs and earliest feasible date
- Assigned profile
- Inspector, engineer or discipline specialist matched to the equipment and test method
Quick answers
I need someone in China to check the machine before it ships. Is that what a factory acceptance test is?
Possibly, but not automatically. A FAT is a defined acceptance event against an agreed protocol and acceptance criteria. A factory witness test only describes someone observing a test; it is the same assignment as a FAT only when the test basis, witness role, evidence, authority and release decision are agreed in writing. If the need is limited to quantity, packing, marking or visible condition, a pre-shipment inspection is usually the right tier. Sinospect assigns the inspector, engineer or discipline specialist the defined scope requires, records the measured results and gives you a written basis for release, hold, rework or retest.
| What buyers ask for | What the contract or the supplier calls it | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Someone to watch the machine being tested before it ships | Factory acceptance test (FAT) witnessing · factory witness test | The assigned inspector, engineer or discipline specialist attends the test at the factory and records measured results against your specification |
| Proof it really works, not photos and a video clip | Witnessed functional and performance testing | The tests are run in front of the witness, with values, duration, load and test conditions written down |
| A check that the right things are in the crate before it leaves | Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) | Quantity, packing, marking and visible condition after packing — shipment readiness, not performance |
| The paperwork the bank or the end client asked for | Signed FAT report and non-conformity log | A dated record of what was tested, what passed, what failed and what is still open |
| Someone to tell us whether it is safe to release the balance | Release recommendation | Release, release with comments, hold, rework or retest — the decision itself stays with you |
How does a factory acceptance test (FAT) differ from a pre-shipment inspection (PSI) when sourcing equipment from China?
A FAT verifies whether equipment meets agreed technical, functional and documentation requirements before release, usually before final packing. A PSI instead confirms shipment readiness after packing: quantity, packing, marking, serial numbers and document pack. For complex equipment, buyers often run a FAT first, then a PSI before dispatch.
| Comparison point | Factory acceptance test (FAT) | Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Verify technical, functional and documentation requirements | Verify final shipment readiness |
| Typical timing | Before release, usually before final packing | After packing, before dispatch |
| Typical checks | Performance, configuration, safety, records, NCR disposition | Quantity, packing, marking, serial numbers, document pack |
| Best suited to | Industrial equipment, molds, machines, processing lines, engineered systems | Finished goods, packaging, accessories, simple spare parts |
What is FAT witnessing, and who decides whether to release the equipment afterward?
FAT witnessing means the agreed factory tests are observed, measured and recorded against the FAT procedure, with pass/fail captured via photo and video evidence. Sinospect supplies the witnessed evidence and a recommendation: release, release with comments, hold, rework or retest. The buyer keeps the final release decision.
| FAT deliverable | Purpose for the buyer |
|---|---|
| FAT witness plan and readiness note | Confirms planned scope, supplier readiness and required witnesses |
| Signed FAT report / test disposition | Records measured results and pass/fail status |
| Photo, video and measurement evidence | Supports the witnessed findings with traceable proof |
| Non-conformity and corrective-action log | Tracks NCRs, correction status and carry-forward points |
| Release / hold / rework / retest recommendation | Supports the buyer's final release decision |
What FAT scope should be witnessed before equipment release in China?
A buyer's FAT scope follows the agreed inspection-and-test plan, FAT procedure and acceptance criteria across five control points: ITP and readiness, equipment identity and conformity, functional and performance test witnessing, safety and protection checks, and documentation review with non-conformity disposition. Each is measured and recorded against agreed criteria.
| FAT control point | What is checked | Output |
|---|---|---|
| ITP, procedure and readiness | Acceptance criteria, supplier readiness, test bench, required witnesses | Readiness note and witness plan |
| Equipment identity and conformity | PO match, nameplate, model, serial number, drawings, configuration, finish | Identity and conformity record |
| Functional and performance tests | Measured values, duration, loading, output, control response, alarms, sequence | Pass/fail results with photo or video evidence |
| Safety, isolation and protection | Insulation, grounding, pressure/leak, emergency stops, guards, interlocks, calibration references | Safety and protection check record |
| Documentation and non-conformity | Certificates, calibration references, manuals, spare-parts lists, as-built changes | NCR disposition and corrective-action log |
What is a factory acceptance test in China, and when is it the right control?
A factory acceptance test in China is witnessed performance verification against the agreed ITP, producing measured results and a signed record before release. It is justified for industrial equipment, molds, machines, processing lines and engineered systems, where a post-shipment defect is expensive or slow to correct. Simpler items usually fit PSI or spot checks.
| Item type | Control tier | Why this tier |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial equipment, molds, machines, processing lines, engineered systems | FAT | A post-shipment defect is expensive or slow to correct |
| Finished goods and packaging | Spot check or PSI | Usually not the right tier for a FAT |
| Basic accessories, simple spare parts | Spot check or PSI | Usually not the right tier for a FAT |
Who will attend my FAT in China, and how is that person selected?
The assignment is matched to the equipment and test. Sinospect reviews the equipment class, FAT protocol, applicable test method, acceptance criteria, required discipline, language and site-access needs, and any instrument or calibration requirements. The proposal states the role to be assigned and the evidence needed to confirm fit. During qualification, Sinospect can share the proposed role profile and relevant credentials when appropriate and authorised.
| Assignment input | What it decides |
|---|---|
| Equipment and test method | Whether the assignment needs an inspector, engineer or discipline specialist |
| Protocol, standard and acceptance criteria | The competence and experience that must be evidenced |
| Factory location, language and access rules | Practical attendance, communication and site-readiness requirements |
| Instruments and calibration | What must be supplied, identified and valid on the test date |
| Continuity and review | Primary attendance, backup arrangements and who reviews the final report |
Sinospect does not claim that one generic profile or one universal credential is suitable for every FAT.
Can one FAT campaign cover several factories or repeated call-offs?
Yes, provided it is governed as one campaign rather than copied ad hoc from visit to visit. A master protocol, acceptance vocabulary, evidence standard and report format remain consistent; each factory or call-off then records its own scope, date, assigned personnel, instruments, findings, open items and disposition. This makes results comparable without pretending every site or equipment package is identical.
| Operating shape | How it is controlled |
|---|---|
| Single FAT event | One defined unit, factory, protocol, witness scope and report |
| Multi-factory campaign | One master method with a separate call-off record, personnel assignment and finding set for each factory |
| Repeated surveillance programme | Planned and actual visits tracked under one reporting method, with site-specific hold points and open items |
How is FAT support priced?
The quotation follows the operating shape and evidence burden, not one universal public rate. A defined one-off FAT may be quoted as a bounded fixed scope; recurring surveillance may use day or call-off terms; protocol-, specialist- or instrumentation-heavy work may be quoted as a fixed campaign covering the agreed outcome. The proposal states what is included and what would trigger a variation before work starts.
| Commercial basis | Best fit | The quotation should state |
|---|---|---|
| Bounded fixed scope | One defined FAT with known equipment, factory and protocol | Covered event, normal working window, report output and exclusions |
| Day or call-off terms | Recurring surveillance or work whose attendance volume can change | Minimum attendance, travel, overtime, cancellation, reporting and variation rules |
| Fixed specialist campaign | Protocol-, specialist- or instrumentation-heavy measurement work | Protocol work, assigned specialist, instruments and calibration, witnessed execution, report and retest rules |
Public content explains the pricing mechanics; the project quotation carries the rates, assumptions and exclusions.
What authority does Sinospect have during the FAT?
Authority is defined in writing for the assignment. Sinospect can observe and record the agreed tests, challenge evidence within scope, raise non-conformities, request clarification, witness corrective action or retest, and recommend release, hold, rework or retest. Unless the buyer expressly delegates a specific power, Sinospect does not redesign the equipment, waive acceptance criteria, accept a supplier concession, bind the buyer to a variation or make the buyer's final commercial release decision.
| Action | Default position |
|---|---|
| Observe, measure and record agreed tests | Yes, within the written scope |
| Raise a non-conformity or request evidence | Yes, within the written scope |
| Recommend release, hold, rework or retest | Yes; the recommendation supports the buyer's decision |
| Change the design or waive acceptance criteria | No |
| Accept a concession or make final commercial release | The buyer, unless a specific authority is delegated in writing |
A witness signature records attendance and results; it does not automatically transfer acceptance authority.
01 · Scope
When a factory acceptance test is the right tier
A factory acceptance test is not a general inspection label. Supplier quotations and buyer correspondence may refer to a factory witness test, source inspection or vendor inspection, but those labels are not automatically interchangeable with FAT. FAT is a defined factory hold point: the protocol, acceptance criteria, witness role, evidence, authority and release decision are agreed in writing; tests are then witnessed, measured results recorded, non-conformities dispositioned, and the buyer receives a written basis for release, hold, rework or retest. FAT is usually justified for industrial equipment, molds, machines, production lines and engineered systems where a defect discovered after shipment would be expensive, slow or operationally disruptive to correct. It is usually not the right tier for a container of finished goods, a packaging order, a basic accessories run or a simple spare-parts shipment; those usually belong in spot check or pre-shipment inspection in China unless there is a specific technical acceptance requirement.
It becomes useful when
- Industrial equipment has performance characteristics that must be witnessed before dispatch, not merely photographed or checked after packing.
- A transformer, generator, motor, pump, compressor, processing line or other technical machine must be tested against an agreed ITP or FAT procedure.
- A mold, tooling package or production fixture must be validated for fit, function, cycle expectations, surface finish, inserts, cooling or repeatability before release.
- Safety, isolation, protection, control logic, alarms or interlocks must be verified before the equipment leaves the supplier.
- A failed test, wrong configuration or missing accessory would be difficult to correct once the goods arrive at the destination site.
- A bank, partner, downstream customer or regulator needs a traceable factory-side record showing what was tested, what passed, what failed and what remains open.
- The FAT depends on a discipline specialist, project-specific competence evidence, or a calibrated instrument that must be confirmed before the test date.
- Several factories, equipment packages or repeat call-offs must be run under one protocol and reporting method without losing site-specific findings.
02 · Verification
FAT-specific control points inside the QA layer
Control point
ITP, FAT procedure and readiness
Sinospect confirms the inspection-and-test plan, FAT procedure, acceptance criteria, supplier readiness, test bench availability, required witnesses, the assignment profile and competence evidence, site-access and language needs, required instruments and calibration, and the difference between routine tests, type-test references and any special tests required for this order.
Control point
Equipment identity, visual and dimensional conformity
The inspected unit is tied to the purchase order, nameplate, model, serial number, drawings and agreed configuration. Visual condition, key dimensions, finish, assembly status, major components and accessories are checked before the functional test narrative begins.
Control point
Functional and performance test witnessing
Agreed tests are witnessed against the FAT procedure, not simply accepted from supplier statements. Measured values, test duration, loading conditions, output, control response, alarms, operating sequence and pass/fail criteria are recorded with supporting photo or video evidence where useful.
Control point
Safety, isolation and protection checks
FAT-specific safety and protection points are verified where applicable: insulation, grounding, pressure or leak checks, emergency stops, guards, interlocks, protection devices, control cabinets, warning labels and isolation points. Calibration references and test instruments are checked when measurement evidence depends on them.
Control point
Documentation review and non-conformity disposition
Test records, certificates, calibration references, as-built changes, manuals, spare-parts lists and packing-readiness documents are reviewed while the equipment is still accessible. Non-conformities are classified, assigned to correction, accepted with conditions, carried forward, or used to support a hold or retest recommendation.
03 · Evidence
Evidence captured during the FAT tier
- FAT basis and readiness record
- Purchase order, technical specification, approved drawings, approved component list, ITP, FAT procedure and acceptance criteria checked before the witness event.
- Supplier readiness confirmed: equipment complete, test bench available, test instruments identified, relevant documents prepared, and responsible supplier personnel present.
- Routine-test scope, type-test references, special test requirements and exclusions documented so the buyer knows exactly what the FAT does and does not prove.
- Witnessed test and measurement record
- Equipment identity, nameplate, model, serial number, major components and configuration photographed and tied to the test record.
- Functional, performance, safety, isolation or control tests witnessed against agreed criteria, with measured results and pass/fail status recorded.
- Test instruments, calibration references, test conditions and supplier explanations captured where they affect the reliability of the evidence.
- Assignment and campaign record
- Assigned role, discipline and experience basis documented against the equipment, protocol and test method before booking.
- Required instruments, ownership or supply responsibility, calibration reference and validity date identified before the witness event.
- For multi-factory or repeat-call-off work, the master protocol and report method remain controlled while each factory or visit keeps its own scope, date, personnel, evidence and finding record.
- Disposition and release record
- Non-conformities logged with severity, requirement reference, supplier response, corrective-action owner and target closure date.
- Corrective-action evidence, retest results, updated documents or as-built records captured where issues are corrected before release.
- Release, conditional release, hold, rework, retest or dispatch carry-forward recommendation prepared for the buyer's decision.
04 · Deliverables
Deliverables issued
Deliverable
For · Procurement, engineering and QAFAT witness plan and readiness note
A short record of the test and assignment basis: ITP, FAT procedure, acceptance criteria, equipment and factory readiness, assigned role or discipline, required instruments, covered factories or call-offs, witness scope and authority boundary before the FAT is run.
Deliverable
For · Engineering, operations and external reviewersSigned FAT report or test disposition
A structured record of what was witnessed, which results were measured, which criteria were applied, and whether each test passed, failed or remains open.
Deliverable
For · Engineering and operationsPhoto, video and measurement evidence
Traceable visual and measurement evidence tied to serial numbers, test steps, control points, NCRs and corrective actions.
Deliverable
For · Procurement and supplier teamNon-conformity and corrective-action log
Each issue classified, linked to a requirement, assigned to correction or retest, and tracked through closure or carry-forward.
Deliverable
For · Procurement and financeRelease, hold or carry-forward recommendation
A practical disposition supporting the buyer's decision: release, release with comments, hold, rework, retest, or dispatch with clearly identified open items.
05 · Risks reduced
Risks closed during the FAT tier
Risk
A PSI is used where FAT is required, so performance defects are only discovered after shipment.
How Sinospect closes it
Sinospect separates the QA tier decision first: PSI checks shipment readiness; FAT witnesses technical and functional acceptance before the equipment is packed or released.
Risk
The supplier controls the test narrative with photos, videos or internal records that do not prove the exact unit or test condition.
How Sinospect closes it
Sinospect witnesses the agreed tests at the supplier side, ties the evidence to the unit identity and records test conditions, measured values and acceptance criteria.
Risk
The equipment looks correct visually but does not match the required configuration, component list or operating sequence.
How Sinospect closes it
Nameplate, serial number, drawings, component list, major accessories, control logic and configuration are checked before and during the FAT.
Risk
Safety, isolation, protection or control issues are discovered only during installation or commissioning.
How Sinospect closes it
FAT-specific safety, isolation, alarm, interlock and protection checks are witnessed where applicable, with failed points logged before release.
Risk
Non-conformities are discussed verbally and then disappear from the record.
How Sinospect closes it
Each finding is written into the NCR or open-item log with severity, corrective action, evidence requirement and release implication.
Risk
The buyer receives a weak "passed FAT" statement that cannot support review by a bank, partner, downstream customer or regulator.
How Sinospect closes it
The FAT report shows what was tested, which criteria applied, what evidence was reviewed, which items remain open and what release recommendation follows.
Risk
A generic inspector is assigned without matching the equipment, test method, required discipline or instruments.
How Sinospect closes it
Sinospect defines the assignment basis before booking and records the role, competence evidence, site constraints and instrument requirements that make the person fit for the stated scope.
Risk
A multi-factory or repeat-call-off campaign drifts into different protocols, evidence standards and report language at each site.
How Sinospect closes it
A master protocol, acceptance vocabulary and reporting method remain controlled, while each factory or call-off retains its own personnel, evidence, findings and disposition record.
Risk
The quotation is not comparable because travel, overtime, cancellation, retest, reporting, specialist inputs or authority are left implicit.
How Sinospect closes it
The proposal states the commercial basis, included factories or call-offs, variation triggers, exclusions and authority boundary before work starts; no public rate card substitutes for a defined scope.
06 · Background resources
Related
- Service · FAT for EPC procurement packagesThe witness-and-challenge scope for bought-out project packages: rotating equipment, switchgear, transformers, motors and control panels.
- Service · Cleanroom systems FAT witnessingISO 14644-3 methods at the supplier's works, with the factory-verifiable and site-only boundary written down before signature.
- Service · Switchgear & GIS partial-discharge witnessingThe specialist scope when PD decides acceptance on switchgear: test-object level, pattern interpretation and retest after rework.
- Service · Transformer FAT witnessingThe dedicated witness scope for power and distribution transformers: routine tests per IEC 60076, tap-changer and accessory checks, signed FAT record.
- Service · Switchgear & panel FAT witnessingThe dedicated witness scope for LV/MV switchgear and control panels: construction and wiring verification, dielectric tests, protection and interlock function per IEC 61439/62271.
- Service · PD test witnessing at FATThe specialist witness scope when partial discharge measurement decides acceptance: circuit calibration, background noise and the recorded PD level against the standard.
- Service · Quality assuranceThe umbrella service where Sinospect chooses the right QA tier: spot check, PSI or FAT.
- Service · Pre-shipment inspection in ChinaThe sibling depth tier for shipment readiness: quantity, packing, marking, serial numbers and document pack.
- Service · Logistics & consolidationThe downstream flow after release, when goods move into packing, consolidation, forwarding and document handover.
- Service · Documentation controlThe cross-cutting layer for certificates, test records, manuals, as-built changes and final document pack.
- Resource · Factory acceptance test checklistPractical checklist for planning FAT scope, documents, witnessed tests, NCRs and release decisions.
- Resource · Factory acceptance testing guideThe broader FAT cluster guide: what FAT proves, where it sits before shipment, and how it differs from other inspection tiers.
- Resource · What is a factory acceptance test?Definition, purpose, attendees, FAT vs SAT, and the contract basis that makes the test enforceable.
- Resource · FAT vs SATThe boundary between the factory acceptance test and the site acceptance test: what each verifies and what each sign-off commits the buyer to.
- Resource · Partial discharge testing at FATWhen PD testing belongs in the FAT for transformers, switchgear and HV cables — and what a credible result records.
- Resource · The controlled order packageWhere the written FAT record and the order’s QC evidence live — one bilingual, version-controlled order package with a stated order of precedence.
- Selected field notesAnonymised examples of factory-side findings, corrective actions and release decisions.
07 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
I have never bought equipment from China before. What do I actually get, and what do I have to do?
You send what you have: the purchase order, the specification or cahier des charges, and whatever the supplier is calling the test protocol. Sinospect tells you whether a full FAT is the right level for this order or whether a pre-shipment inspection would do the same job. If a FAT is right, Sinospect assigns the inspector, engineer or discipline specialist the scope requires to attend the test at the factory. You receive a signed record of what was tested and measured, a list of what failed or is still open, and a recommendation: release, release with comments, hold, rework or retest. You keep the release decision. You do not need to travel, and the report is written to be read by someone who does not work with the standards every day.
The supplier keeps saying "witness test" and our contract says "FAT". Are those the same thing?
Not automatically. A FAT is the defined factory test event; a witness test describes how one or more agreed tests are observed. The terms often overlap, but the label alone does not establish who attends, which tests are covered, the acceptance criteria or who holds release authority. In a buyer-direct engagement, Sinospect's assigned witness is retained by the buyer and works independently of the supplier within the agreed scope. When Sinospect is the contracting supplier, the same activity is Sinospect's own factory-side QC and is not represented as independent third-party certification. The role, scope, criteria, evidence and authority are fixed in writing before the test date.
How do I know if FAT is the right tier for my order, or if a PSI would do?
That decision belongs in the Quality Assurance stage. Sinospect looks at value, technical complexity, whether performance must be witnessed, and how difficult correction would be after shipment. If the order is finished goods, packaging, accessories or a simple spare-parts run, a spot check or PSI may be enough. If the order is industrial equipment, tooling, a mold, a processing line or a machine with functional acceptance criteria, FAT may be the right tier.
What is the difference between FAT and PSI?
FAT checks whether the equipment meets agreed technical, functional and documentation requirements before release. PSI checks final shipment readiness: quantity, packing, marking, visible condition, serial numbers and document pack before the goods leave the factory. For complex equipment, the strongest path is often FAT before final packing, then PSI after packing and before dispatch.
Is a supplier video enough for FAT approval?
Usually no. Supplier videos can support the record, but they rarely prove the exact unit, complete test conditions, test duration, measured values, instrument references or acceptance criteria. For high-value or technically complex equipment, on-site witnessing gives stronger evidence and a clearer release basis.
What happens if the equipment fails FAT?
Failed items are recorded as non-conformities or open items. The supplier proposes correction, rework, concession or retest; Sinospect records the evidence and tracks closure. Major or critical failures normally support a hold or retest recommendation unless the buyer explicitly accepts a documented carry-forward condition.
Who decides whether the equipment is released after FAT?
The buyer makes the release decision. Sinospect provides the factory-side evidence: witnessed test results, document status, non-conformity position, corrective-action evidence and a practical recommendation — release, release with comments, hold, rework or retest.
Who will attend my FAT in China, and how is that person selected?
The assignment is matched to the equipment and test. Sinospect reviews the equipment class, FAT protocol, applicable test method, acceptance criteria, required discipline, language and site-access needs, and any instrument or calibration requirements. The proposal states the role to be assigned and the evidence needed to confirm fit. During qualification, Sinospect can share the proposed role profile and relevant credentials when appropriate and authorised.
Can one FAT campaign cover several factories or repeated call-offs?
Yes, provided it is governed as one campaign rather than copied ad hoc from visit to visit. A master protocol, acceptance vocabulary, evidence standard and report format remain consistent; each factory or call-off then records its own scope, date, assigned personnel, instruments, findings, open items and disposition. This makes results comparable without pretending every site or equipment package is identical.
How is FAT support priced?
The quotation follows the operating shape and evidence burden, not one universal public rate. A defined one-off FAT may be quoted as a bounded fixed scope; recurring surveillance may use day or call-off terms; protocol-, specialist- or instrumentation-heavy work may be quoted as a fixed campaign covering the agreed outcome. The proposal states what is included and what would trigger a variation before work starts.
What authority does Sinospect have during the FAT?
Authority is defined in writing for the assignment. Sinospect can observe and record the agreed tests, challenge evidence within scope, raise non-conformities, request clarification, witness corrective action or retest, and recommend release, hold, rework or retest. Unless the buyer expressly delegates a specific power, Sinospect does not redesign the equipment, waive acceptance criteria, accept a supplier concession, bind the buyer to a variation or make the buyer's final commercial release decision.
Field note · Formal FAT
Witnessed on the test floor. Recorded while correction was still possible.
During this formal FAT assignment in China, Qiao checked the agreed test point and recorded observations against the FAT procedure as the test was executed.
- Witness
- The defined test point was observed at the supplier facility.
- Record
- Observations were captured against the agreed procedure during execution.
Qiao, Sinospect QA/QC Engineer, recording observations during a formal FAT assignment.
See how Sinospect controls a China order
08 · Getting started
What to send — start with what you have
A formal FAT plan helps, but it's not a blocker. Send the documents you already have; if no protocol exists yet, the specification or cahier des charges is usually enough for us to propose the witness scope.
FAT plan or test protocol
The procedure to witness, if one exists — otherwise the specification it should be built from.
Technical specification or cahier des charges
The performance the equipment must demonstrate, with the standards that apply.
Purchase order, factories and campaign shape
What was ordered, every factory or test location, and whether this is one FAT or a repeat campaign, so the call-offs can be planned correctly.
Acceptance criteria
Pass and hold thresholds, tolerances and the test conditions that decide release.
Expected readiness date
When the supplier expects the equipment ready to witness, so the FAT is timed before dispatch.
Required discipline, competence evidence or instruments
Any buyer, lender, end-client or site requirement that affects personnel selection, accepted evidence, experience, test equipment or calibration.
Partial information is fine. Send what you have; Sinospect confirms what is usable, what is missing and what it changes before any commitment.
Schedule a witnessed FAT in China
Send the equipment scope, supplier details and whatever specification or FAT protocol you have. Sinospect acknowledges the request within one business day. When the file is sufficient, the written scope assessment follows within two business days, covering whether FAT is the right gate, the proposed assignment profile and campaign shape, what will be witnessed, the earliest feasible test date, and which commercial or authority assumptions need confirmation. Once booked, the assigned inspector, engineer or specialist attends the test and returns the signed FAT record for your release decision.