When does Chinese factory production lead time start?
A Chinese factory's quoted production lead time starts from the trigger agreed in the quotation, which may depend on cleared deposit receipt, approved specifications and usable materials. Order placement alone does not confirm that manufacturing has begun. Ask for a dated start confirmation and evidence of actual work. Cambridge China Bridge can help check these conditions.
Separate the quoted clock from actual manufacturing
Before paying, ask the factory to define the start and finish of its quoted lead time. Does the clock cover material purchasing and waiting for a production slot, or begin only when those are complete? Does it end at manufacturing completion, packed goods ready for inspection, or release for dispatch?
Keep the agreed clock start and actual manufacturing start as separate entries in your order record. A deposit can release material purchasing while the line remains occupied. Our shipping lead-time guide covers the wider delivery chain; this guide focuses on proving the production start.
Check each start condition
Ask for a readiness record showing each condition, its status, supporting evidence, outstanding action and responsible person. Agree whether the quoted clock starts when the final outstanding condition is cleared. A vague statement such as 'order confirmed' leaves you unable to identify what is holding the job.
Materials should be suitable and allocated to your order, rather than merely ordered or somewhere in the warehouse. If manufacturing can start before packaging arrives, record which operation can proceed and which later operation depends on it.
| Condition | What to confirm | Useful evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cleared deposit | The agreed recipient has received the payment and allocated it to your order | Receipt confirmation identifying the order and any payment shortfall |
| Approved specification | The factory is using the agreed revision, with no unresolved choices | Dated approval referencing the specification, sample and artwork |
| Usable materials | Materials needed for the planned operation have arrived, passed the agreed checks and been allocated | Material receipt and check records linked to your order |
| Tooling and process | Required tooling is ready and any agreed trial approval is complete | Trial approval and confirmation of tooling readiness |
| Production capacity | The intended line or subcontractor has a confirmed slot | A production schedule identifying your order and planned operation |
Make approval specific enough to release the run
Send an approval that identifies the specification revision and states whether bulk production is authorised. Resolve material, colour, dimensions, labels and packaging choices, or list the items that may follow without blocking the planned operation. Silence on a revised file is a poor basis for a start date.
Keep permission to buy materials separate from permission to manufacture. If you authorise purchasing while a sample is still being revised, state what may be bought and how a later change will affect that commitment. See making bulk production match the sample for the sample and specification controls.
Request a dated release and evidence of work
Ask the factory to confirm in writing: the order concerned, the cleared conditions, any remaining dependency, the agreed clock start, the planned manufacturing start and the expected finish event. Clarify calendar days or working days, the working calendar and any planned shutdowns.
Check commencement against evidence linked to your order, such as a job record and dated photographs of identifiable materials being processed. Material buying, a trial sample or generic line photographs do not establish that your bulk run has begun. Ask which operation is underway and what remains.
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Handle missing conditions and changes explicitly
If a condition remains open, record who must resolve it and ask for a revised start forecast. Separate buyer approval delays, material problems and factory capacity delays. Request the effect on the finish date rather than accepting a fresh lead-time quotation with no explanation.
After a change, ask which operations are affected, what work can continue and whether the agreed clock is paused or revised. Record the decision and updated milestones. If manufacturing was confirmed but progress has slipped, use the factory delay recovery checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Does production lead time start when I place the order?
Only if order placement is the agreed trigger. Ask what approvals, payment, materials and capacity the quotation assumes, then obtain a dated confirmation.
Does sending the deposit start production?
A transfer instruction does not confirm cleared receipt or manufacturing. Ask the agreed recipient to confirm receipt against your order and the factory to confirm production readiness.
Can production start before all materials arrive?
Some operations may proceed with the materials available. Ask which operations can start, what remains dependent on missing items and how this affects the quoted finish date.
What proof should I ask for that production has started?
Request an order-linked job record and dated photographs showing the planned operation underway. Confirm that the evidence shows bulk production rather than sampling or material preparation.