A launch is not a date on a calendar. It is the moment a real product, a real supply chain, and a customer promise all have to work at the same time. This checklist helps teams focus on the few things that must be true before they commit to go-live.
Review it early enough that an incomplete item can still change the plan. Give each item one owner and the evidence that proves it is ready.
1. Product release is unambiguous
Before the factory starts the production run, your team should be able to answer one question without hesitation: which exact product are we making?
- Approved CAD, drawings, BOM, materials, finishes, and tolerances are in one current release.
- Open design comments are either resolved or explicitly accepted as risk.
- Quality criteria and test methods are written in a form a supplier can use.
2. Supplier commitments are explicit
A quote is not a production plan. Confirm the details that make the quote executable and give any uncertainty an owner.
Confirm commercial terms
Capture unit cost, tooling, payment terms, MOQ, incoterms, expected lead time, and quote assumptions.
Confirm the production calendar
Agree on material booking, first article, in-line inspection, final inspection, and freight pickup dates.
Confirm escalation paths
Name the people who can make a design, quality, or commercial decision when the factory needs one quickly.
3. Packaging and fulfilment are ready
The pack is part of the product. It needs the same release discipline as any critical component.
- Final artwork, copy, barcode, legal requirements, inserts, and print proof are approved.
- Carton dimensions, weight, quantity per carton, labels, pallets, and shipping plan are confirmed.
- Channel requirements for retail, DTC, marketplaces, or distributors are checked.
4. The customer launch is staffed
Ready stock alone does not make a customer-ready launch. Make sure the people selling, supporting, and delivering the product know what is coming.
- Product page, photography, messaging, and launch schedule have named owners.
- Customer care has troubleshooting information, care instructions, and an escalation route.
- Beta feedback and likely objections have informed the customer-facing experience.
5. The team agrees on the source of truth
Finish with a shared launch review. Look at the same product release, production status, packaging proof, inventory plan, and go-live checklist. The goal is not to eliminate every risk; it is to make every remaining risk visible and consciously owned.
Connect the people, evidence, and decision points across product, suppliers, packaging, and launch readiness.