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FAQs - The 15 Quality Assurance Checks Every Machine Must Pass Before Shipment - Part 3 Frequently Asked Questions What is a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)? A FAT is a structured, pre‑shipment validation where the machine is tested against performance, safety, and functional requirements—often witnessed by the customer. It confirms the machine is ready before it leaves the factory. Why is lubrication verification done before shipment? Proper lubrication prevents premature wear, overheating, and accuracy issues. Verifying it at the factory ensures all critical components are protected from the first startup. What is the purpose of the wet test? The wet test runs the machine with water to confirm the entire product path is leak‑free and functioning correctly under realistic conditions, reducing contamination and cleanup risks later. Why perform a detergent or “suds” test? Foaming and chemically aggressive products behave differently than water. This test ensures the machine can handle foam, corrosion risk, and level control under real application conditions. How do alignment checks impact performance? Precise alignment of stars, guides, and valves ensures smooth bottle transfer, prevents jams, and maintains consistent fill accuracy across all containers. What safety features are verified before shipment? Technicians test interlocks, limit switches, emergency stops, guarding, and jam detection systems to ensure the machine operates safely and complies with applicable standards. Why is long‑run testing necessary? Extended operation reveals issues like heat buildup, abnormal wear, or noise that short tests cannot detect, improving reliability from day one. What happens if an issue is found during QA checks? The issue is corrected and the affected system is re‑tested before the machine is approved for shipment, ensuring no unresolved problems reach the customer. What documentation is included with the machine? Customers receive operation and maintenance manuals, lubrication guidance, spare parts lists, and recorded factory settings to support installation and ongoing use. How do these QA checks benefit installation and startup? They reduce debugging time, prevent early failures, and provide a stable baseline so the machine can reach full production faster. Are these checks aligned with industry standards? Yes. The process reflects modern practices informed by standards such as ANSI/PMMI B155.1, OSHA requirements, and hygienic design guidelines. Can customers witness the QA or FAT process? In many cases, yes. Customers may attend or review FAT results to verify the machine meets their specifications before shipment. Contact us for more information. Check out part 1 and part 2 of this blog series.

For bleach, detergents, and other foaming or chemically aggressive products, a dedicated suds test is performed to simulate actual operating conditions.