First Article Jobs in Wichita, KS (NOW HIRING)

First Article Administrator

Purpose

The primary purpose of the First Article Administrator is to manage the Production Process Verification system, a critical function that validates our manufacturing processes are fully capable of producing parts that meet all customer requirements. This role serves as the gatekeeper for quality, ensuring from the very first production run that our documentation, equipment, and tooling can consistently deliver conforming products. By meticulously administering the First Article Inspection (FAI) process in accordance with the AS9102 aerospace standard, this individual provides the objective evidence needed to proceed with full-scale production, safeguarding both company and customer success.

Key Responsibilities

Process Administration & Compliance

• Administer the complete First Article Inspection (FAI) process, ensuring all activities are controlled and completed in accordance with the AS9102 standard.
• Ensure all required documentation is present to make up a complete FAIR package, including the FAI report, bubble drawing, material and processing certifications, and all imposed engineering drawings.
• Conduct a final, thorough review of every FAI to verify it is fully complete, accurate, and conforms to all customer requirements after the work order is closed.
• Oversee the FAI non-conformance process, ensuring that any deviations are properly documented on Forms 1 and 3 and that required 'Delta' FAIs are initiated to verify corrective actions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

This role serves as the central point of contact for the FAI process, coordinating with numerous departments to ensure any change affecting a part's fit, form, or function triggers the appropriate FAI to maintain process integrity.

Departmental Collaboration in the FAI Process

Department/Role

Key Contribution

Customer Service

Initiates "Full" FAIs for new products and for products with a lapse in manufacturing of two or more years.

Engineering Planning

Initiates "Delta" FAIs for changes originating from either the customer or internal requests.

Programming & Harper Programming

Triggers a "Delta" FAI for changes to NC programs or when manufacturing moves to a new machine or work center.

Production Leadership (Supervisors, Managers)

Initiate "Delta" FAIs when production is moved from one machine or work center to another.

Supply Chain, Supervisors, Quality, Eng.

Initiate "Delta" FAIs when an outside processing supplier is changed.

Quality

Initiates a "Delta" FAI to clear a nonconformance found on a previous FAI or when inspection tooling is changed.

Training and Support

A key responsibility of the First Article Administrator is to serve as a subject matter expert for the entire organization. This includes providing guidance, training, and development to other employees on the FAI process and its specific requirements. The administrator helps personnel correctly interpret customer engineering requirements and properly complete FAI documentation by directing them to resources like Engineering/FAI Technique Sheets, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all inspections.

Common Tasks

1. Monitor FAI Requirements: Actively review the "FAI Dashboard" on the company portal to identify all new work orders that have been flagged for either a "Full" or "Delta" FAI.
2. Perform Up-Front FAI Process: Execute the critical preparatory work for an FAI. This involves generating the initial FAI report, creating a detailed bubble drawing using software like Inspection Xpert, and populating the report with all known information derived directly from customer engineering documents.
3. Manage FAI Reporting: Complete and manage FAI reports using the specific platform required by the customer. This primarily involves using either the Net Inspect platform for customers, or the internal Cox Machine portal for others as required.
4. Review FAI Forms: While manufacturing floor inspectors review Forms 1 (Part Number Accountability) and 3 (Characteristic Accountability), the Administrator is responsible for the final review and stamp-off of Form 2 (Product Accountability), a task that may also be performed by other personnel trained by the Administrator. This form is critical as it covers all materials, special processes, and functional testing.
5. Process Non-Conformance: When a nonconforming characteristic is discovered during an FAI, document the issue and the nonconformance number on Form 3, check the "FAI Not Complete" box on Form 1, and ensure a "Delta" FAI is scheduled for the next production run to verify the corrective action was effective.

 Preferred Education and Experience

• 2 years of knowledge and experience in a Quality Assurance role.
• Deep knowledge and practical experience with the AS9102 "Aerospace First Article Inspection Requirement" standard.
• Proficiency with bubble drawing software, specifically Inspection Xpert.
• Experience with Model Based Definition (MBD) and the ability to interpret and dimension 3D models using software such as CATIA.
• Experience with FAI software platforms like Net Inspect is required.
• Must possess experience using different precision measurement instruments.