# Machine Documentation

This section allows companies to share all digital documents describing their machinery and processes with third parties. A logged-in user with the necessary permissions can make annotations on the documents, and the system will keep a record of the history of changes made and will notify the relevant parties.

Basic use of this section enables the sharing of documents and tracking of changes made by various users, thus ensuring traceability, accountability, and compliance. Advanced features provide all the tools needed to manage acceptance or validation tests within the context of quality assurance processes. Indeed, the modules that are part of the Machine Documentation are designed to verify that a system or component meets certain specifications and requirements before it is put into operation or delivered finally.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Documentation</td><td><a href="https://content.gitbook.com/content/jkCM7skZiW9DRfJyyrrE/blobs/45IoPN73cnDE3ofZ2kg6/machineDocumentation.png">machineDocumentation.png</a></td><td><a href="machine-documentation/documentation">documentation</a></td></tr><tr><td>History</td><td><a href="https://content.gitbook.com/content/jkCM7skZiW9DRfJyyrrE/blobs/FkGoTpX1jK0bwSLbiOUU/machineDocumentation_history.png">machineDocumentation_history.png</a></td><td><a href="machine-documentation/history">history</a></td></tr><tr><td>Settings</td><td><a href="https://content.gitbook.com/content/jkCM7skZiW9DRfJyyrrE/blobs/ZNcl1wrtQLPLs504Qwk3/machineDocumentation_mailingLists.png">machineDocumentation_mailingLists.png</a></td><td><a href="machine-documentation/settings">settings</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Theoretical Overview - Acceptance Testing

Acceptance tests are a crucial part of the development lifecycle of a product or system. They consist of methodical and controlled processes designed to ensure that the system meets specific requirements and quality standards before its implementation or delivery. These tests are fundamental as they guarantee that the system is functional, reliable, and safe for the intended use. They are used to prevent issues that might arise after release, thereby reducing maintenance costs and increasing customer satisfaction.

Acceptance tests are commonly used across a variety of industries, including regulated sectors such as aerospace, automotive, defense, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

There are several types of acceptance or compliance tests, including:

* FAT (Factory Acceptance Test): conducted by the manufacturer at their facility before the system is shipped to the client, the goal is to ensure that all parts of the system operate according to the specifications and that any defects are identified and corrected before delivery. Clients may be present during FATs to personally verify that their specifications have been met;
* SAT (Site Acceptance Test): performed once the system has been installed at the client's site, the SAT confirms that it functions correctly in the environment in which it will operate. This step is vital because systems can behave differently under local conditions;
* IAT (Internal Acceptance Test): the term may vary depending on the organization, but generally refers to tests conducted internally before the official acceptance tests. This allows verifying that the system complies with internal standards and performs further checks before proceeding with FAT or SAT.
