Board notes
First Article
A practical note on first-article sign-off, for teams that want the first board checked properly before the run opens up.
First Article is our note on the first built board off the line: print quality, polarity, rotation, reference checks and the sign-off that should happen before volume placement carries on.
First Article records should read like a release gate for the first assembled PCB, not a general production diary. Note the paste print result, any polarity or rotation catches, and who accepted the board for continued placement. If you send follow-up detail through the contact form, include the board path and the exact check that stopped or cleared the run.
Checks before volume placement
- Board revision and shift noted
- Top and bottom photos of the first board
- Gerber, centroid, or assembly drawing reference listed
- Inspector name, role, and sign-off time
Use this note alongside machine and process pages when a first board must be compared against programme data and assembly intent. The journal context helps explain why the build paused, while equipment notes show which printer, placer, or oven settings influenced the result.
How First Article runs in a practical production week
First Article is about signing off the first built board before the run opens properly. It helps teams confirm placement, polarity, solder condition and key references while changes are still easy to contain. This note is useful when the line is ready but approval must be disciplined.
Start with the PCB revision, stencil used, paste batch, and the point in the shift when the first unit came off the line. Johannesburg dry air, Durban humidity, Cape Town sea air, and power interruptions can all affect print definition, reflow appearance, and how quickly an approved sample should be captured. Teams at larger factories and smaller contract builds need the same discipline when the first board becomes the reference for the rest of the lot.
Photograph the first accepted board before operators replace reels, touch up parts, or clear reject bins. Mark any corrected reference designators on the note so the next start-up does not repeat the same error. That small record becomes useful when quality asks why a run resumed after an initial stop.
What the signed board proves
The completed note should show whether printing, placement, polarity, rotation, solder condition, and critical references were checked against the build data. It must also state whether the line continued, paused for correction, or required programme changes before another sample was built.
Link First Article to the matching Reflow note and the relevant Board notes entry when the issue spans more than one process stage. Do a final review of accepted boards, rejects, and machine changes before material is booked back. SMT line enquiries should name the board type, the placement volume and the machines already on the line.
- Sign-off tied to the actual board build
- First sample checked before output increases
- Named approval captured in writing
South African line conditions affecting approval
A first-board sign-off in South Africa often has to account for dispatch cut-offs, shared operators, ageing plant infrastructure, and interrupted power. Some sites run mixed products in one day, so the note must clearly separate this board revision from the previous setup. Where a customer visit or demonstration build is involved, the accepted unit should still meet the same inspection standard as production stock.
Coastal factories may need closer attention on oxidation, storage exposure, and post-reflow appearance. Inland sites often watch dust around feeders, boards, and printer areas, especially after maintenance or long idle periods. When supply interruptions reset equipment, capture whether the first accepted board was built before or after the restart.
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Details worth capturing on First Article
A practical note on first-article sign-off, for teams that want the first board checked properly before the run opens up.
File the note while the board, machine state, and operator feedback are still easy to verify. Include the sample quantity inspected, any references corrected, and the release decision recorded against that specific build. That gives buyers, quality staff, and production supervisors one clear record for the opening board.