Step Sixteen: Intervention Testing – All projects require intervention testing and the frequency of the intervention test is determined by the testing lab. Based on the size of the project and the complexity of the product the testing lab will determine at what quantities in production the product has to be tested. It is during these intervention tests that the product is subjected to all of the testing that the lab has determined in the earlier QAP. If the product tested during intervention fails, then that product that was pulled has to be reworked and tested again prior to becoming acceptable product to ship.

Step Seventeen: Final Ship Date – At this point prior to beginning the production it is the last opportunity to increase the order and a Final Ship Date is also provided to the client. Based on the tooling that has now been finished and first shots approved and the submission of the limit set samples, the factory can establish an accurate production schedule and determine the Final Ship Date of the product.

Step Eighteen: Production Begins – Now that all of the limit set samples have been established and approved, the factory can begin full production. If at this point the client were to make a change it would have to be a “running change” which means you would keep the production line going but make the change during production. This usually means variants will be shipped throughout production.

Step Nineteen: Pre-Shipment Inspection – Once the product has gone through the production line and is being packed into the ocean containers we perform a “pre-shipment” inspection on random cases that are drawn from the product being loaded. In the pre-shipment inspection, our QA inspectors will open cases and take out product to test them for function, quality and safety. If the product fails the test the product must be unloaded and reworked prior to being able to ship.

Step Twenty: Photo Shoot & Contract Samples - For some of your clients you may require Point-Of-Sale displays, Photo Shoot samples or Contract samples to arrive prior to the actual product for purposes of setting up displays, photo and commercial shoots and client samples. It would be at this time that you would request your samples and they would be taken from the initial product that is being manufactured. You need to allow for these samples in the total quantity that you have ordered. In some cases, you may need to use Paint Masters for the photo shoots if samples are not ready.

Step Twenty One: Production Complete – At this point all of the production and manufacturing for this item is complete. The product has been inspected and carton packed and the production line will be taken down for this project. The tooling for this project will be taken down and stored at the manufacturers facility.

Step Twenty Two: Final Ship Date – The last of the containers for this project will have been delivered to the ocean terminal for shipment. At this time you will pay the factories for their fine work. Now they begin the long journey from the Pacific Rim to the United States (unless they're heading somewhere else).

Step Twenty Three: Arrival and Distribution – Once the shipments arrive on the West Coast docks, they are delivered by truck to the distribution warehouses of the retailers, where they are then sorted and shipped to the individual stores. At that point, the stockers rip the cartons open, stock the shelves, and stand back as scalpers rush over and hoard the whole shipment.

The End!