Short answer: A custom order moves through four stages: specification, feasibility and tooling decision, pre-production sample, then production with inspection. The three approval gates are the written spec, the physical sample, and the pre-shipment inspection report. Skipping any one of them is where most quality disputes begin.
Stage 1 — Write the specification
Drawings, materials, tolerances, finish, function, packaging and the compliance requirements of the destination market. Ambiguity here becomes an argument later. If you only have a reference photo, say so: we will ask the factory what can and cannot be confirmed from it.
Stage 2 — Decide what needs tooling
This is the highest-leverage decision in an OEM project. An existing product platform can be adapted with printing, colour, size or component changes; a genuinely new shape needs a mould. We ask the factory to state in writing which parts are standard and which are new, together with tooling cost and ownership. Our OEM / ODM development page explains where we draw that line.
Stage 3 — Approve a physical sample
The sample is measured and photographed against the agreed spec, not against a description. Where a finish or colour matters, agree a physical reference. Revisions are normal; what matters is that each round has a written change list and a signed-off final sample that production is compared against.
Stage 4 — Produce, inspect, ship
Dimensions, materials, print, function, packaging and documents are checked before the batch leaves China. The report is shared in English so your team can review it without a translator.
Frequently asked questions
How many sample rounds are normal?
One to three for most custom work. More usually means the original specification was incomplete.
Can sampling happen before I choose a factory?
No — a sample is made by a specific factory on a specific line. We shortlist first, then sample.
What if the batch differs from the approved sample?
The written spec and the signed-off sample are the reference for the inspection and for any discussion with the factory.
Tell us what you want to make. Email tacousus@hotmail.com, message us on WhatsApp at +86 133 5546 5164, or request a quote. Our team works from Zhuhai and Hong Kong, China.