What factory quality control should happen before shipment

A defect found in the workshop costs an hour. The same defect found on site costs a week, and often an argument about who pays for the crane.

5 minute read

Inspect against the approved sample, not the drawing

The drawing controls dimension; the approved sample controls appearance. Both have to be present at the inspection, and the sample has to be the one that was signed.

What the inspection record should contain

  • Item reference and installation location
  • Dimensional check against the shop drawing
  • Finish check against the approved sample
  • Fixings and hardware present and correct
  • Photographs of the completed item
  • Named inspector and date

Pack for the installation sequence

Items should be marked and crated in the order they will be installed. A correctly made package delivered in the wrong order still stops the site.

Release should be a decision, not a date

Nothing should leave the workshop because the transport was booked. Release is a decision taken against the inspection record, and it is the last cheap opportunity to fix something.

Bespoke joinery

Send your specification

Send the drawings and the specification.

Send the package drawings, the specification and the programme date. We will confirm what is buildable as drawn, what needs development and what we would need to see before pricing.