Quality & Metrology worked example

First Article Inspection Time at 23% setup and fixturing allowance: a worked example

What does the result look like when setup and fixturing allowance reaches 23%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when scheduling a first article inspection and you need to reserve realistic time on the CMM or bench.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Characteristics to verify: 60 characteristics (unchanged)
  • Verification rate per feature: 3 characteristics / min (unchanged)
  • Setup and fixturing allowance: 23 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 20)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base first article inspection time = characteristics to verify รท verification rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 24.6 min for required first article inspection time, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 20 min for base first article inspection time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 23 % for setup and fixturing allowance applied.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3 pieces / min for verification rate.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where setup and fixturing allowance sits at 20% and the headline result is 24 min, this scenario comes in 2.5% above the baseline at 24.6 min.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when setup and fixturing allowance is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. A single verification rate averages fast linear dimensions with slow GD&T and CMM callouts, so a part heavy in true-position or profile tolerances will run longer than the flat rate implies.

Results at a glance

  • Required first article inspection time: 24.6 min (headline result)
  • Base first article inspection time: 20 min
  • Setup and fixturing allowance applied: 23 %
  • Verification rate: 3 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.