The pre-production checklist that prevents most remakes
Ten checks to run before a decorated job goes to production, and why each one matters.
A remake costs you twice: the blanks and decoration you pay for again, and the client's trust. Almost every remake traces back to something that could have been checked before the job started.
Run these ten checks on every job before it goes to production. Most take seconds.
The garment
- Style and colour match the accepted quote. "Navy" from one supplier isn't the same navy from another. Check the style code and colour name, not just the description.
- The size run adds up. The size split should add up to the quoted quantity. A matrix of 14 / 32 / 38 / 24 / 12 is 120; check it before you order 120.
- Stock is available. Check availability for every size before you commit to a date. Extended sizes (3XL and up) are usually the first to run out.
The decoration
- The method suits the artwork. Fine detail and gradients suit DTF or digital transfer better than embroidery; large solid areas suit screen print. If the method changed after quoting, re-check the price.
- Placement and size are in millimetres. "Left chest" means different sizes to different people. Write the width, and the position from a fixed reference such as the centre front or the collar seam.
- Colours are specified. Pantone references for print, thread colours for embroidery, and a note on the garment colour the artwork sits on.
- The file is production-ready. Vector artwork for screen print, a stitch file (such as DST) for embroidery, and a high-resolution file at print size for transfers. A logo pulled from an email signature is not production-ready.
The approval
- The client approved this exact proof. The approved proof should show the garment colour, placement, size and decoration method, and it should be the version in production. Keep the approval with the job, not in an inbox.
The order
- Personalisation is attached. Names, numbers and individual sizes for teamwear should be in one list that matches the size run, checked for spelling.
- Delivery is confirmed. The address, the contact person, the in-hands date and whether the order ships to one place or several.
Make it the default
A checklist only works if it's used on the busy days too. The simplest way is to make it part of the handover from sales to production, so a job can't start until the answers are in.
In BrandKit, the sales handover checks billing, the size and quantity matrix, artwork and delivery before a job reaches production, and proof approvals are recorded against the job. Nexus flags jobs that are missing any of them.