FAT and SAT for poultry equipment projects
FAT and SAT are the two formal acceptance milestones that convert 'delivered equipment' into 'accepted, warrantied and paid'. Weak protocols cause payment disputes; strong ones keep suppliers accountable across the full lifecycle.
- FAT at factory
- SAT after commissioning
- Payment linkage
- Protocol template
Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
Executed at the supplier's factory before shipment. Verifies functional performance of critical assemblies — climate controllers, feed-line motors, egg-belt drives — under simulated load. Buyer or buyer's representative signs the FAT report, releasing a payment milestone (typically 10–20% of contract value).
Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
Executed on the buyer's farm after installation and commissioning. Confirms the assembled system meets the RFQ performance guarantees: air speed at bird level, feed distribution uniformity, egg-belt crack rate, hatch-of-fertile in a first commercial cycle. Successful SAT triggers final payment and starts the warranty clock.
What the protocol must specify
Measurable acceptance criteria (numbers, not adjectives), test equipment used, sample size, tolerance limits, and remedy path if a criterion fails. 'Systems operate as intended' is unenforceable.
Payment linkage
Standard schedule: 30% down, 40% against FAT, 20% against delivery on site, 10% against SAT. Adjust ±5% for supplier size and market risk. Never release more than 70% before SAT for a first-time supplier.
SAT for biological equipment
Hatcheries and breeder houses cannot pass SAT on paper alone. Extend the SAT window to the first commercial cycle (42 days broiler, first flock hatchability for setters) with clear performance guarantees and remedy clauses.
Common questions
- Who attends the FAT?
- Buyer or nominated engineer, supplier's QC lead, and — for LC-linked payments — a third-party inspector. Buyers who cannot travel should nominate SGS/BV.
- Can I skip FAT to save time?
- Only for standard, off-the-shelf items. For custom or first-time supplier scope, skipping FAT is a false economy that shows up as expensive site rework.