First Article Policy

At Photonics on Crystals (POC), we are committed to providing the highest quality photonics and crystal-based solutions. We understand that building trust with a supplier before committing to a larger order is crucial. To ensure your confidence in our products, we proudly offer a First Article Inspection (FAI) option to our valued customers.

Our FAI process is designed to provide a worry-free purchasing experience, giving you the opportunity to inspect and verify our product quality before proceeding with a full production order. This policy outlines how the FAI process works and the benefits it offers.


What is FAI?

FAI, or First Article Inspection, allows customers to inspect and test a small quantity of production samples to ensure they meet agreed specifications before the balance of the order is delivered. This option is particularly beneficial if you:

  • Are seeking a second or alternative supplier for an existing product.
  • Want to lock in production pricing for larger orders while ensuring the product meets your quality standards.

FAI Guidelines

  • Finalized Design: FAI is available for frozen (finalized) designs only, where no changes to specifications are allowed. The purpose of FAI is strictly for quality inspection, not for prototyping.
  • Sample Testing Period: Once you receive FAI samples, you have 30 days to conduct the necessary testing and inspection.
  • Acceptance Criteria: The acceptance of FAI samples is based on the specifications agreed upon during the Request for Quote (RFQ) or quotation process.

Benefits of FAI

  • Cost Savings: Instead of placing a small pilot order at a higher unit price, FAI allows you to evaluate our quality at production pricing.
  • Risk-Free Commitment: If the FAI samples fail to meet the agreed specifications, you have the option to cancel the entire order, and a full refund or credit will be issued.
  • Quality Assurance: POC guarantees that our products will meet your agreed specifications and standards.

FAI Process

  1. Agreement on Specifications: During the RFQ/quotation phase, both parties agree on the product specifications and terms.
  2. Production of FAI Samples: POC produces and ships a small batch of samples (e.g., 5–10 units) for your inspection.
  3. Customer Testing: You have 30 days to test the samples for quality, performance, and compliance with specifications.
  4. Approval: Upon your approval of the FAI samples, POC will proceed with full production and ship the remaining order per the agreed delivery schedule.
  5. Order Fulfillment: If any quality issues arise during the FAI phase, you may cancel the order or request necessary adjustments.

Policy Notes

  • Specification Changes: Once FAI samples are approved, changes to specifications are not allowed. Any additional changes after approval will incur additional costs, which will be borne by the customer.
  • Refund Policy: If the FAI samples fail to meet the agreed specifications, you may cancel the order and receive a full refund or credit.

Real-World Example

A customer wishes to order custom nonlinear crystals from POC:

  • Option 1: Order 5 units as a pilot batch at $2,000/unit, totaling $10,000.
  • Option 2 (FAI): Place an order for 100 units at a production price of $350/unit, totaling $35,000. POC ships 5 units for FAI, allowing the customer to inspect and approve the quality before proceeding with the remainder of the order.

By using the FAI option, the customer avoids the higher pilot batch cost and can evaluate the production-quality samples at a lower unit price. This ensures confidence in the product while benefiting from production pricing.


Contact Us

For more information on our First Article Inspection (FAI) policy or to request a quote, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +6590749669
Address: Prestige Centre, #09-10, 71 Bukit Batok Cres, Singapore 658071

At Photonics on Crystals, we stand behind the quality of our products 100%. Our FAI option is just one of the many ways we ensure your satisfaction and confidence in our photonics solutions.