What is FAI (First Article Inspection)?
First Article Inspection (FAI) is the process of verifying product information when new products first arrive at our warehouse so we can ensure accurate billing, storage, and shipping setup.
This inspection confirms that the weights and dimensions of your products. Accurate data ensures:
Where and how inventory is stored
Cubic-based storage billing
Shipping label cost and carrier rates
Packaging selection and fulfillment workflows
FAI protects your business by making sure these critical details are correct before orders start shipping.
What We Check
During FAI, we typically confirm:
Unit dimensions (L × W × H)
Unit weight
Avoiding FAI Costs (Proactive Option)
Brands can avoid FAI fees by proactively providing complete product data before new products arrives.
To bypass FAI, simply send a CSV with the following details to your Account Manager:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| SKU | Product identifier used in your store & WMS |
| Weight | Unit weight (single sellable unit) |
| Dimensions | Length × Width × Height (single sellable unit) |
Manifest relies on merchant-provided data for billing and fulfillment setup.
If the provided information is inaccurate and results in:
Incorrect storage allocation
Misapplied dimensional charges
Shipping label adjustments or surcharges
Manifest is not responsible for the inaccurate data. All related fees and corrections including adjustments to storage charges will be billed to the merchant.
Accurate product data protects your billing and ensures the correct warehouse setup. We strongly recommend confirming all units’ weight and dimensions prior to submission.