What is the main purpose of a "first piece" or "production run"?

The primary purpose of a "first piece" or "production run" is to ensure that product specifications are accurately met. This initial piece serves as a benchmark to verify that the production process is generating items that conform to the established standards for quality, dimensions, and other critical specifications.

During this phase, operators and quality control personnel closely inspect the first item produced to identify any potential issues before full-scale production begins. This is essential for preventing defects and ensuring that the final products meet customer expectations and compliance requirements. By confirming that the production process is correct right from the start, it helps maintain efficiency and minimizes waste during subsequent runs.

While testing a machine's speed, training new employees, or analyzing production costs might be involved in different contexts of manufacturing, they do not directly capture the main objective of the first piece or production run, which is fundamentally about quality assurance and specification adherence.