Free checklist · First production run

First production run checklist: 30 checks before you pay the factory deposit

The first production run is where small gaps become expensive. A missing label, an unsigned golden sample or a vague payment term can cost a whole batch. Work through these 30 checks with your factory before you pay the deposit, and keep the evidence for each.

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The 30 checks

Work through all 30 with your factory

Seven areas decide whether a first production run goes well. The PDF adds the evidence to ask your factory for on every check, with Owner, Date and Done columns to sign each one off.

A

The design is frozen

5 items
  1. 01
    Design freeze signed off.Without a frozen design, the factory builds whatever version it has.
  2. 02
    Final parts list (BOM) with approved alternates.Approved alternates stop one missing part from halting the line.
  3. 03
    Final production files released.You need these files to reorder, fix or move production.
  4. 04
    Written test specification.A written test is the only fair way to reject a bad unit.
  5. 05
    Golden sample approved.The golden sample settles every "is this acceptable?" argument.
B

Certification and labels

5 items
  1. 06
    Required tests passed on production-equivalent units.Selling before tests pass can mean recalls and blocked listings.
  2. 07
    Labels and markings correct.Wrong labels can stop shipments at customs or on marketplaces.
  3. 08
    Lithium battery shipping paperwork ready, if your product has one.Carriers refuse lithium batteries without the right paperwork.
  4. 09
    Manual and packaging carry the required statements.Missing statements can block retail listings and imports.
  5. 10
    Country of origin and recycling marks agreed.Packaging reprints after production are slow and expensive.
C

Tooling

4 items
  1. 11
    Tooling ownership in writing.Without it in writing, you may not be able to move your molds.
  2. 12
    First mold samples measured and approved.Measuring first samples catches fit problems before thousands of parts.
  3. 13
    Mold life and number of cavities agreed.Mold life decides when you pay for tooling again.
  4. 14
    Who pays for mold fixes.Fixes after first samples are common; agree who pays first.
D

The order and its terms

5 items
  1. 15
    Unit price confirmed, including packaging and testing.Extras appear when packaging and testing aren’t in the price.
  2. 16
    Minimum order quantities known for the factory and for key parts.Part reels and factory minimums can multiply your first order.
  3. 17
    Payment terms tied to inspection.Paying the balance after inspection is your strongest quality lever.
  4. 18
    Lead time and what happens if it slips.A slipped date can cost a launch window or a crowdfunding promise.
  5. 19
    Landed cost worked out.The factory price is only part of what each unit costs you.
E

The pilot run

4 items
  1. 20
    A small pilot run before full volume.A pilot run finds line problems while they’re cheap to fix.
  2. 21
    First article inspection report.The first units prove the factory built what you designed.
  3. 22
    Yield target agreed.A low pass rate quietly raises your real unit cost.
  4. 23
    Test fixtures working at the factory.Without working fixtures, units ship untested.
F

Quality

4 items
  1. 24
    A written quality standard, including cosmetic defects.Cosmetic defects cause the most disputes; write the standard down.
  2. 25
    Sampling level and inspector agreed.Agreeing the sampling level up front avoids arguments at inspection.
  3. 26
    Pre-shipment inspection booked.Inspection before shipment costs far less than returns after.
  4. 27
    A process for failed lots.A clear process stops a failed lot turning into a stand-off.
G

After the shipment

3 items
  1. 28
    Spare parts and spare units.Spares keep customers happy while you fix early issues.
  2. 29
    A way to update firmware on shipped units.Updates let you fix problems found after launch without a recall.
  3. 30
    Everything you need for the reorder, stored and owned by you.Your reorder shouldn’t depend on one factory’s goodwill.

Download the sign-off sheet (PDF)

Every check with the evidence to ask your factory for, plus Owner, Date and Done columns to sign it off.

Read more

What happens during a first production run →Who owns the tooling? →Quality control in manufacturing →Minimum order quantities explained →

FAQ

Questions about a first production run

What should I check before paying a factory deposit?

That the design is frozen and signed off, the parts list has approved alternates, certification and labels are done, tooling is approved from real samples, and the order states payment terms, quality limits and inspection. The checklist covers 30 checks in seven areas.

What is a golden sample?

A signed-off unit that both you and the factory keep as the reference for every unit that follows. Without one, there is nothing to hold a batch against.

How do I protect myself in a first production order?

Agree in writing what counts as a defect, how units are inspected before shipping, and when each payment is due. The PDF adds the evidence to ask your factory for on every check, with Owner, Date and Done columns.

Is it really free?

Yes. Everything is on this page with no email needed. You only enter an email if you want the PDF copy.

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Bring your checklist to a free 30-minute call. We’ll point out the gaps that usually cost first-time founders a batch.

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