Net-Inspect FAQ

1. Who is responsible for adding part numbers to the system? Is it Net-Inspect or our customer?

For security and data integrity reasons, customers are solely responsible for managing their own part lists in Net-Inspect. As such, Net-Inspect is unable to fulfill part number requests submitted by suppliers.

If you're experiencing delays or have concerns about the status of a part number request, we recommend reaching out directly to your customer for further assistance.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

2. Does Net-Inspect have a Dark Mode?

Not at this time. While Net-Inspect currently does not offer a dark mode, we appreciate the feedback and interest in this feature. Should it be added in the future, we’ll be sure to notify users through our standard feature announcements.

3. How do you find the version of Net-Inspect?

Click on your first name in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. In the dropdown menu, the version number will appear just below your company name.

Please note: As a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform, all users access the same version of Net-Inspect.

4. Who created Net-Inspect? 

Net-Inspect was founded in 2001 by Mike Dunlop, who originally developed the platform for his own manufacturing company, QPM Aerospace. He designed it as an internal tool to support lights‑out manufacturing and later expanded it into a full-featured cloud-based quality and supply chain management solution 

Today, Mike Dunlop serves as Founder and Chairman.  Over the past 25 years, Net-Inspect has grown into a widely-adopted SaaS platform used by thousands of aerospace, defense, and manufacturing organizations worldwide.

5. What is my account number, or what is my account name?

Today Net-Inspect does not display an account number in product. However, Net-Inspect does display an account name. Click your first name in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. In the drop down menu, your company name will be displayed just beneath the Log Out button.

6. How do I submit a request to Net-Inspect Help Desk?

To get in touch with our Tech Support team, please use this URL: https://net-inspect.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket or email [e-mail] 

7. Where can I find training videos for various products (QM, eSource, FAI, etc.)?

Net-Inspect has several training videos available on Vimeo. Below is a direct link to the Vimeo page:  https://vimeo.com/netinspect/albums 

8. Can export-controlled documents, or CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) go into Net-Inspect?

Yes, export-controlled documents or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) can go into Net-Inspect. Net-Inspect is assessed annually for FedRAMP Moderate equivalency and many of our enterprise customers have secured their accounts to properly safeguard and protect export controlled data entered by themselves or their suppliers.

9. Can Net-Inspect bubble or balloon my print?

Net-Inspect does not currently offer built-in print bubbling capabilities. However, we partner with several solutions that support bubbling and can publish directly to Net-Inspect. These include Capvidia (MBD), DISCUS, InspectionXpert (now part of IdeaGen), and SOLIDWORKS Inspection.

Alternatively, you can manually balloon your drawing and create the FAIR in Net-Inspect using either the web interface or the Excel import option.10.

10. Should I have authorization to “United States Only”?

If you notice access to a program you shouldn't be authorized for, please reach out to your company's Net-Inspect Setup Administrator. They can manage your program alignments by navigating to:

Settings Gear → User Management → [Your User ID] → Alignments tab

From there, they can review and update your program access, including removing any programs that are incorrect or no longer needed.

11. What is Net-Inspect’s record retention policy?

Many companies’ Quality Plan defines Net-Inspect as their source repository for quality documentation including FAIRs, Measurements, Non-Conformance Records, Shipment Records, and more. Net-Inspect has protections in place to ensure customers’ quality documentation is saved and retained into perpetuity.

Each company has unique record retention requirements as specified by customers and/or regulations. If data has aged to meet the requirements of your quality plan, please contact the Net-Inspect Helpdesk, and we will be able to support your requirements. During this process, the customer of the data is also asked for their concurrence on deleting data.

12. Can you use Net-Inspect for Secure Email?

Net-Inspect does not provide a standalone secure email service. However, its cloud-based platform is designed as a secure environment for sharing data between suppliers and customers. To protect sensitive or export-controlled information, all such data should be exchanged directly within the Net-Inspect web application—not via email.

13. Why does Form 1 on the FAI has the 'AOG' and 'FAA Approved' options?

The 'AOG' (Aircraft on Ground) and 'FAA Approved' fields were originally added to Form 1 at the request of several customers. These fields continue to be actively used by some companies, so they remain visible to all users to ensure consistency across the platform.

14. How can I contact the Net-Inspect Help Desk?

If you’re looking to speak with a person, get live help, or contact a support representative, our Helpdesk team is available to assist you.

You can submit a support ticket, contact support, or request help from a live agent by Submitting a Ticket through our ticketing platform, emailing us, or giving us a call. A support representative will review your request and follow up with you as soon as possible.

• Submit a ticket: Submit a request – Net-Inspect
• Email: [e-mail]
• Phone: [phone]

15. Where is the support page?

You can access Net-Inspect's searchable Help Center here: https://net-inspect.zendesk.com/hc/en-us This webpage includes:

• Knowledge base articles
• Step-by-step guides
• Frequently asked questions

16. What is a Shell FAI or Shell FAIR?

A "Shell" FAI (First Article Inspection) refers to a partially completed FAIR (First Article Inspection Report) where Form 2 (Bill of Materials) and Form 3 (Characteristic Accountability) are intentionally left blank. Instead, the emphasis is placed on Form 1 (Part Number Accountability) and supporting documentation attachments in the FAIR.

This approach is typically used when the required data is being provided through sub-tier supplier FAIRs or other referenced documents uploaded in the Documents tab. The term "shell" reflects that the FAIR serves as a structural placeholder rather than a fully detailed report.

Whether a shell FAI is acceptable depends entirely on your customer’s requirements. If you're unsure whether you can submit a shell FAI, we strongly recommend confirming with your customer before proceeding.

17. How do I clear my browser cache?

To clear your browser cache, follow the steps below based on your browser:

Chrome:

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to More tools > Clear browsing data.
3. Choose Time range (e.g., "All time").
4. Check Cached images and files.
5. Click Clear data.

Edge:

1. Click the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
3. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
4. Check Cached images and files.
5. Click Clear now.

Firefox:

1. Click the three horizontal lines (☰) in the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
4. Check Cached Web Content.
5. Click Clear.

Safari (Mac):

1. Click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar.
2. Go to the Privacy tab.
3. Click Manage Website Data, then Remove All.

18. What is IX? 

IX is a common abbreviation for InspectionXpert, a ballooning and quality inspection tool used to extract and manage inspection requirements from engineering drawings. InspectionXpert was acquired by Ideagen and has since been rebranded as Ideagen Quality Control.

In User Management, the "Use IX" column signifies that a user has an IX Serial Number configured for their user account. This setting can be found by going to the user's profile > Alignments > Applications > entering an IX Serial Number

19. What tools can balloon drawings and publish the data to Net-Inspect?  

Several tools support ballooning drawings and exporting data directly to Net-Inspect, including: 

• DISCUS Software InspectionXpert (now Ideagen Quality Control)
• Capvidia
• SolidWorks Inspection 

These tools streamline the First Article Inspection (FAI) process by allowing users to balloon engineering drawings and generate compatible output files for seamless integration with Net-Inspect. 

20. How do you increase font size?

You can adjust the font size in two ways:

Within the application:

• Click on your User ID in the top right corner.
• Go to User Interface Settings.
• Use the Font Size slider to make the text larger or smaller.

Using your browser’s zoom feature:

• Press Ctrl + '+' to zoom in or Ctrl + '-' to zoom out (on Windows).
• On a Mac, use Command + '+' or Command + '-'.

• You can also adjust zoom from your browser menu.

  

21. What is the default idle session timeout period? How long does it take for a user session to be automatically terminated due to inactivity?

By default, Net-Inspect automatically terminates an inactive (idle) user session after 4 hours of inactivity.
This session timeout value can be customized by the helpdesk if a different idle timeout period is required.

Additionally, each User ID is allowed up to 5 concurrent active sessions by default.
The maximum number of concurrent sessions can also be adjusted by the helpdesk upon request.

22. How can I download Ideagen InspectionXpert?

You can download InspectionXpert to your device by going to FAI > Create FAIR > Import From External > Select Import Type (Ideagen InspectionXpert) > clicking the green button to download

If you do not see this screen, you may need to have a license enabled for your user account, in which case you should contact the Net-Inspect helpdesk [e-mail]

23. What is Use IX?

The Use IX column in the User Management table is used to indicate the presence of an Ideagen InspectionXpert serial number for each user. An IX license is required in order to download and launch InspectionXpert through Net-Inspect.

If you have a serial number, you may contact your Setup Administrator to enter the serial number on your user profile > Alignments > Applications > Ideagen Quality Control Pro (InspectionXpert) Serial Number

24. How can I contact Pratt and Whitney - Hartford?

Pratt & Whitney has their own helpdesk to assist Net-Inspect users with access privileges in accordance with their company specific security protocols. If you have already completed the P&W Portal Identify registration process, you can get in touch with the P&W helpdesk by calling [phone].

Alternatively, if you are an internal P&W employee, you can submit a ticket through the online system OR call it in to NEXT Connect | Service Now [phone]

25. How can I check the review status of my FAIR?

Supplier FAIRs are submitted directly to the customer, and Net-Inspect personnel do not review or approve FAIRs on the customer’s behalf. Net-Inspect does not have visibility into customer FAIR review timelines or decisions.

If you have questions about:

• The current status of your FAIR
• When your FAIR will be reviewed
• The comments or feedback provided on your FAIR

please contact your customer directly, as they are responsible for reviewing and providing disposition on the FAIR