Glossary · Engineering, integration and validation
Digital factory acceptance test
Also known as: Virtual FAT, Digital FAT
German: Digitaler Werksabnahmetest
In automation engineering, a digital factory acceptance test is a factory acceptance test performed against a simulation or digital model of the machine or plant instead of, or before, the physical equipment. The real control software is tested with simulated sensors, actuators and processes, often with the customer taking part remotely.
- Validation
In one sentence
A digital factory acceptance test checks the real control software against a simulated machine or plant before or instead of the physical FAT.
Example
Before the machine is assembled, the customer witnesses a digital FAT in which the PLC program runs a simulated labeling line and all agreed test cases are executed.
How it applies
- Engineering: The digital FAT builds on Virtual commissioning: the control software runs against a behavioral model of the plant, so sequences, interlocks and HMI screens can be tested early.
- Commissioning: Defects found in the digital FAT are fixed before shipment, which shortens on-site commissioning. Tests that depend on real mechanics, wiring or field devices still need the physical Factory acceptance test (FAT) or Site acceptance test (SAT).
- Project management: Contracts should state which test cases may be accepted digitally and which require physical equipment.
- Documentation: The documentation team records the model version, software version and test environment in the Test protocol, so it is clear what was actually tested.
Digital FAT vs. physical FAT
A digital FAT tests the software against a model; its results are only as good as the model's fidelity. A physical FAT tests the assembled equipment. Evidence from a digital FAT alone does not demonstrate that the real machine is safe or complete; safety functions need testing on the real equipment.