Quality & Metrology worked example

First Article Inspection Cost with first article parts to inspect of 7.5 parts: a worked example

Push first article parts to inspect up to 7.5 parts and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when quoting a first article inspection or deciding whether to run it in-house or at an outside lab.

The inputs for this scenario

  • First article parts to inspect: 7.5 parts (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 3)
  • Variable inspection cost per part: 120 $ / part (unchanged)
  • Fixed program cost: 200 $ (unchanged)
  • Labor and overhead adder: 150 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total first article inspection cost = first article parts to inspect × variable inspection cost per part + fixed program cost + labor and overhead adder) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,250 $ for total first article inspection cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 167 $ / piece for cost per part.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 900 $ for variable inspection cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 350 $ for fixed program and overhead cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where first article parts to inspect sits at 3 parts and the headline result is 710 $, this scenario comes in 76.06% above the baseline at 1,250 $.
  • It sums variable cost (parts times per-part cost) with fixed program cost and a labor and overhead adder, then divides by parts to give cost per part. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total first article inspection cost: 1,250 $ (headline result)
  • Cost per part: 167 $ / piece
  • Variable inspection cost: 900 $
  • Fixed program and overhead cost: 350 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live First Article Inspection Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.