A purchase order is the point where conversation becomes obligation. Ambiguity here is what most production disputes are made of.
What to include
- Style number and description, matching the tech pack
- Quantity broken down by size and colourway
- Agreed unit price and total
- Reference to the approved pre production sample
- Delivery date and delivery location
- Packing and labelling requirements
- Payment terms and schedule
- Tolerance for over and under delivery
Size and colour breakdown, not totals
An order for five hundred pieces without a size ratio invites the factory to guess. Specify the exact quantity per size per colour.
Reference the approved sample explicitly
Naming the approved sample as the quality standard turns a subjective disagreement into a comparison against a physical object.
Over and under delivery
Cutting rarely produces the exact number ordered. Agree in advance what variance is acceptable and how it is invoiced, so a slightly short delivery is a known outcome rather than a surprise.
Keep it consistent
Style numbers, colour names and size labels should be identical across the tech pack, the purchase order and the packing list. Inconsistent naming causes real errors in shipping and receiving.