Pre-production confirmation checklist: eight items
Items that were not confirmed before prototyping will have to be reworked afterward, at least doubling the cost.
Common questions found in AIWhat should be prepared before sample production?
The real reason for repeated prototyping
Half of sampling delays occur before the order is placed: documents have not been transferred, color codes have not been provided, materials have not been finalized, and quantities have not been clearly specified. The factory can only wait.
misread:Sample production simply involves sending the files over; the factory will naturally know what needs to be done.Actual circumstances:The factory is only responsible for the information it receives; for any parts you have not provided, it will fill them in according to its own conventions.
There is also a common misconception:Once the checklist has been completed, everything will be set.In fact:Once completed, submit it to the factory for confirmation; if they fail to understand it, it is effectively not completed. A single phone confirmation can save you from two subsequent rounds of rework.
Basis for Determination
Eight-item checklist: Files – outline conversion, bleed, and die line layering; Color – Pantone number or CMYK target value; Materials – paper type, weight, and supplier; Dimensions – internal and external dimensions with tolerances; Process – position and area of UV hot stamping and embossing; Quantity – number of proofs and finished products; Delivery – arrival date, not shipment date; Confirmation – whose signature counts.
- document
- colour number
- material
- size
- technology
- quantity
- delivery time
- Confirming Person
Sample production sequence
Complete all eight items before placing the order. If any item is missing, specify it explicitly and have the factory report the associated risk based on the missing item, rather than having the factory guess.
- Clearly state the intended use and acceptance criteria: what needs to be demonstrated in this round?
- Specify the material specifications as the paper type, grammage, brand, or place of origin.
- The quantity shall be determined based on validation requirements; at a minimum, six units should be produced for drop testing.
- List the delivery date and the person responsible on the same document to prevent the sample from being returned without anyone claiming it.
Applicable scope: For cases involving only effect verification without mass-production validation, the quantity and acceptance method may be simplified; however, all other items must still be specified.
On-site settings and practices we have observed
The most common oversight concerns quantity: the client wants to see only the results and requests two samples. As a result, the samples look excellent when returned, but they cannot undergo drop testing or be used to verify the box-filling process. Another common oversight involves the post-processing stage: the samples lack gold foil; the client signs off because they appear clean and unadorned, but once the final production run is gold-foiled, the entire layout's visual balance is completely altered.
The sample application form for INNOPACKING includes these eight items by default; for any sections that the customer cannot complete, we will first ask for clarification before scheduling production. Some projects require only a single round of sampling because, during the early stages, the intended use, quantity, and acceptance criteria are clearly defined from the outset, leaving no room for the vague "I'll take a look while I'm at it" approach.
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What materials should be prepared before sample production?
Intended use and acceptance procedures, material specifications, process list, quantity, delivery schedule, and responsible person. The most common omission is the intended use; if it is not clearly specified, there is no point in requesting samples—the effort will be in vain.
Should we make a few samples for testing?
For performance testing alone, two or three tests are sufficient; however, for drop or assembly testing, at least six tests should be conducted. The number of tests should be determined by the items that need to be verified; fewer tests do not necessarily mean lower costs.
Who should complete the sample checklist?
The person requesting the requirement completes the form; the factory then provides the technical specifications. Both parties complete the form, ensuring that the information is complete.
Do you have any similar packaging issues?Bring your existing files and talk to INNOPACKING · +86 13430308657