How to Approve a Turkish Factory Sample Before Mass Production
Super Admin2 min read
The approved sample is the single most important reference in any manufacturing order. When a dispute arises about colour, size, finish or performance, the first question is always: what exactly did you approve? Buyers who keep a clear sample record rarely lose that argument.
Know which sample you are approving
Development or proto sample: shows the concept; materials may differ.
Fit or function sample: checks size, fit or performance.
Pre-production sample (PPS): made with the actual materials, components and process planned for bulk. This is the one that should be approved as the reference.
Top-of-production sample: taken from the first bulk output to confirm the line matches the PPS.
Give every sample an identity
Each sample should carry a label with the product code, version number, date and supplier name. When a sample is revised, the version changes, for example from V1 to V2, and your notes explain what was changed and why.
Check it against the specification
Review the sample against your written specification, not just by eye. Typical checks include:
Dimensions and weight, measured and recorded
Materials and composition, with supplier declarations or test reports
Colour, compared with an agreed standard under the same light
Function, assembly and safety where relevant
Labelling, packaging and barcodes
Test what matters
For regulated or technical products, send samples to an accredited lab for the tests your market requires. For food, cosmetics and chemicals, ask for analysis certificates for the same batch of raw materials planned for production.
Approve in writing
Write an approval note listing the sample code and version, the specification it was checked against, any accepted deviations, and the tolerances for bulk production. Both sides should sign or confirm by email. Keep at least two identical approved samples: one with you and one sealed at the factory.
Control changes after approval
Agree that no material, component or process can change without your written approval. Suppliers sometimes switch raw-material sources between sample and bulk to manage cost, so ask to be informed of any substitution in advance.
Use the sample during inspection
The pre-shipment inspector should compare bulk goods directly with the approved sample and the signed approval note. That is how a sample protects you in practice.
Get support
TurkLink helps buyers organise sample development, approval and inspection with Turkish manufacturers, so the goods you receive match the goods you approved.
Cover photo: Stretch fabric swatches different values DSCF2204 by Mary Mark Ockerbloom, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
