Factory Acceptance Testing, or FAT, and Site Acceptance Testing, or SAT, are complementary stages for verifying an automation system. FAT is generally performed before shipment or installation; SAT confirms the installed system in its real site, utilities, material flow, and operating environment.
Factory Acceptance Testing
FAT can verify panel wiring, PLC and HMI behavior, device configuration, simulated or available I/O, sequence logic, alarms, recipes, and documentation before the equipment leaves the build location.
Site Acceptance Testing
SAT verifies installation, field wiring, production interfaces, utilities, networks, safety devices, material, operators, and real machine conditions. It may reveal site-specific issues that cannot be reproduced at a bench.
Use the same test evidence
| Area | FAT focus | SAT focus |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Logic and simulated I/O | Installed I/O and process |
| Safety | Design and functional preparation | Installed devices and validation |
| Operations | Expected workflows | Actual production and handoff |
Plan exceptions
Record open items, owners, retest criteria, backups, and acceptance signatures. TechControl supports machine commissioning and control-system integration through structured testing.
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