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Manufacturing Lead Time
| Once all packaging materials have arrived at our factory, production takes approximately 3 weeks. The variable is packaging, not production: simple in-stock packaging arrives quickly, while custom-printed tubes, custom-colour bottles or custom moulds add several weeks before production can start. We give you a packaging arrival date and a shipment date together in every proforma invoice, so you can see exactly where the time goes. |
| From the last of these three events: (1) deposit received in our account, (2) final artwork approved by you in writing, (3) all packaging components delivered to our factory. Production itself is about 3 weeks from that point. This is the single most common source of misunderstanding in our industry, so we state it in every proforma invoice. |
| 1) You send your requirements → 2) our R&D proposes a suitable formula → 3) samples sent for evaluation → 4) formula and packaging confirmed → 5) formal quotation and proforma invoice → 6) contract signed → 7) deposit paid → 8) artwork finalised and packaging produced → 9) mass production and in-process QC → 10) pre-shipment inspection and your approval → 11) balance paid → 12) shipment and export documents delivered. |
| In order of frequency: late artwork approval, late packaging delivery from a customer-nominated supplier, changes to the formula after production has been scheduled, and target-market registration not being ready. Chinese public holidays also matter — Chinese New Year (usually late January to February) and the October National Day week suspend production for 1–3 weeks, so plan around them. |
| Sometimes, for stock formulas with in-stock packaging. Tell us your hard deadline at the enquiry stage rather than after the order is placed — the earlier we know, the more options we have to reserve line time and materials. A rush order may carry an expediting fee. |
| Yes. We send photos and short videos at key milestones — bulk mixing, first-article filling, labelling and cartoning — so you can see your product taking shape and catch any issue while it is still cheap to fix. |
| Yes, and we welcome it. SGS, BV, Intertek, TÜV or your own agent may inspect at our factory. We will provide production schedule, batch records and samples for their inspection. |
| Cosmetic filling always produces a small over- or under-run. Our contract tolerance is ±5% on the ordered quantity, invoiced on the actual shipped quantity. |
| Yes, for repeat customers. We store your packaging materials free of charge for 90 days and finished goods free of charge for 30 days, then release partial shipments against your schedule. Storage beyond those periods may carry a warehousing fee. We always ship the oldest batch first so your shelf life is protected. |