Pre-Production Alignment Checklist — Leather
A leather-specific checklist covering material specs, tanning stages, chemical compliance expectations, and production transitions.
Content
Use this checklist to align material scope, processing stages, chemical expectations, and execution responsibilities before leather production begins. It is designed to reduce late-stage surprises related to traceability gaps, chemical non-conformance, processing handoffs, and shipment delays.
Purpose of this checklist
To clarify what is being produced, where, and by whom; align traceability and chemical compliance expectations before production starts; and identify risk points early, when corrective options still exist.
1) Order and engagement scope
- Product type(s) and construction confirmed (e.g., shoes, bags, garments, accessories)
- Order quantities confirmed (by style / colour / size where applicable)
- Order type confirmed: ☐ Sample ☐ Pilot ☐ Bulk
- Target ex-factory and shipment window confirmed
- Incoterms and named location agreed
- Payment terms confirmed
- Partial shipment policy agreed (allowed / not allowed)
Risk trigger
Any ‘to be confirmed later’ item at this stage usually resurfaces under time pressure.
2) Processing flow and facility mapping
- Processing stages identified (e.g., tanning, re-tanning, finishing, assembly)
- Named facilities identified for each stage (not just company names)
- Confirmation of whether stages occur at: ☐ Single facility ☐ Multiple facilities (list each)
- Subcontracting policy confirmed: ☐ Not allowed ☐ Allowed with prior disclosure and approval
- Criteria for approving processing changes defined
Key principle
Unmapped processing stages equal unmanaged risk.
3) Material definition and traceability expectations
- Material type confirmed (e.g., cowhide, goatskin, split leather)
- Processing state at order start confirmed (raw / wet blue / crust)
- Required traceability level defined: ☐ Hide-level ☐ Batch-level ☐ Process-stage level
- Batch or lot identification method agreed
- Material aggregation rules clarified (allowed / not allowed)
- What is out of scope for traceability documented explicitly
4) Chemical compliance scope
- Applicable standards confirmed: ☐ LWG (scope and facility) ☐ Buyer RSL ☐ Buyer MRSL ☐ REACH-related requirements
- Chemical compliance applies to: ☐ Tanning stage ☐ Finishing stage ☐ Assembly stage
- Responsibility for chemical management defined (supplier / processor / shared)
Common risk
Treating facility certification as product-level assurance.
5) Evidence and documentation expectations
A) Facility-level evidence
- LWG or equivalent certification scope confirmed (facility + stage)
- Validity period reviewed
- Coverage limits documented (what is not covered)
B) Material / product-level evidence
- Material declarations required (type, finish, processing stage)
- Test reports required: ☐ Yes ☐ No (if yes: stage and timing defined)
- Batch-to-document linkage required: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Key principle
Evidence should relate to this order—not supplier history.
6) Pre-production confirmations
- Approved reference material/sample identified and retained
- No-change-after-approval rule confirmed (or change control defined)
- Processing parameters locked (finish, thickness, colour range)
- Rejection and rework criteria agreed
- Escalation contacts identified (buyer + supplier)
7) Production control checkpoints
- Production start confirmation required
- Key processing transitions identified (e.g., wet blue → crust)
- Checkpoints defined for: ☐ Batch movement ☐ Chemical application stages ☐ Assembly start
- Frequency and format of updates agreed (documents, photos, reports)
- Third-party involvement (if any) scoped and time-bound
8) Packing, labeling, and shipment readiness
- Packing specifications confirmed
- Labeling requirements confirmed (origin, material composition, buyer-specific needs)
- Carton marking requirements agreed
- Document list confirmed (invoice, packing list, certificates, test reports)
- Pre-shipment document review step defined
9) Exception handling
- What triggers escalation (missing docs, process change, test failure)
- Decision authority defined (who can approve deviations)
- Resolution options agreed: ☐ Production hold ☐ Corrective action ☐ Buyer waiver (written)
- Deadline rules for unresolved exceptions defined
Minimum control set (if time is limited)
- Processing flow and facility mapping
- Traceability level definition
- Chemical scope clarity
- Batch-to-document linkage
- Exception escalation rules
Document control
Where this checklist refers to verification or evidence, it should be read as verified per engagement: scoped, time-bound, and documented for a specific order or processing stage—not as an ongoing supplier or material status.
Need a scoped version for a live order?
This resource is still being prepared. If you need a version of this structure applied to an active or planned order, we can scope it per engagement.