Factory acceptance tests still matter when integrators bench equipment overseas or interstate. Remote witness is not a webinar with a camera pointed at a screen—it is a scripted evidence pack with roles, timestamps, and retrievable records. We have run remote FAT for Victorian clients who could not fly but still needed defensible sign-off.
What must be in the pack
- Test procedure with pass/fail criteria agreed before the session.
- Screen recordings of HMI and logic states during fault injection.
- IO forcing log or simulation trace matching the procedure steps.
- Named witnesses on both sides and a single punch-list owner.
What remote witness cannot replace
Physical wiring checks, torque on terminals, and safety relay verification still belong on site. Remote FAT covers software behaviour and documented interfaces—not cabinet workmanship you never see.
Summary
Travel is not always practical for witness attendance. Invest in FAT discipline once and reuse the template; a weak remote session often costs more at SAT than it saves in travel.