Practical, industry-standard checklist, suitable for interior fit-out projects and factory production

 

To manufacture any storage / furniture item in a factory, the factory must receive complete, unambiguous data.
Missing even one item can cause wrong fabrication, rework, delay, or site rejection.

Below is a practical, industry-standard checklist, suitable for interior fit-out projects and factory production.

1. Approved Shop Drawings (MOST CRITICAL)

Factory production should start only after approval.

Must include:

  • Plan, elevation, section views
  • Overall sizes (W × D × H)
  • Internal clear dimensions
  • Panel thicknesses
  • Edge profiles (square / chamfer / groove)
  • Fixing details
  • Tolerances (if required)

📌 Status must be Approved or Approved with comments (complied).

2. Final Site Dimensions (As-Built Data)

Required because factory furniture is non-adjustable.

Include:

  • Exact wall-to-wall sizes
  • Floor level variations
  • Skirting height & thickness
  • Ceiling height (if full height unit)
  • Column offsets / projections

📌 Site measurement sign-off is mandatory.

3. Material Specifications

Board / Structure

  • Board type: Plywood / BWP / HDHMR / MDF
  • Grade & thickness
  • Moisture resistance requirement

Surface Finish

  • Laminate brand, code, thickness
  • Veneer species & polish shade
  • Paint type & shade (PU / Duco / enamel)
  • Edge band thickness & colour

📌 “As approved sample” alone is NOT sufficient.

4. Hardware Details

Specify clearly:

  • Hinges (soft close / normal)
  • Drawer channels (brand, load rating)
  • Locks (type & keying)
  • Handles / knobs (model no.)
  • Gas springs / stays (if any)

📌 Hardware positioning must be shown in drawings.

5. Functional Requirements

Factory must know:

  • Shelf load requirement
  • Adjustable / fixed shelves
  • Hanging rods (load & spacing)
  • Pull-out trays / baskets
  • Soft close / push-to-open
  • Ventilation cut-outs (for electrical / UPS / pantry)

6. Integration & Coordination Data

Very important for site fit:

  • Electrical socket locations
  • Data / LAN points
  • AC / ventilation grills
  • Fire alarm / access panels
  • Plumbing (sink, trap, access door)

📌 All cut-outs must be pre-planned, not done at site.

7. Edge, Back Panel & Safety Details

Specify:

  • Edge band thickness (0.8 / 2 mm)
  • Back panel type (ply / MDF / HDF)
  • Anti-topple brackets (for tall units)
  • Fire rating (if required)

8. Finish Direction & Grain Orientation

Required for:

  • Veneer
  • Wood-finish laminates

Mention:

  • Vertical / horizontal grain
  • Book-matched / slip-matched (if applicable)

📌 Missing this causes aesthetic rejection.

9. Manufacturing & Installation Instructions

Include:

  • Modular or one-piece construction
  • Knock-down fittings required or not
  • Installation sequence
  • Wall fixing method
  • Leveling provision

10. Quality & Tolerance Criteria

Mention:

  • Joint gaps tolerance (e.g. ≤2 mm)
  • Door alignment tolerance
  • Edge finish acceptance level
  • Hardware alignment tolerance

11. Samples & Mock-Up Reference

Factory should have:

  • Approved laminate / veneer samples
  • Approved shutter mock-up (if required)
  • Approved handle / hardware samples

12. Documentation Required by Factory

Before production:

  • Approved shop drawing set (PDF + CAD)
  • Material approval sheet
  • Hardware approval sheet
  • Site measurement sign-off
  • Production release note

Simple Factory Release Thumb Rule

If the factory cannot fabricate without calling site for clarification — data is incomplete.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Starting production on “For approval” drawings
❌ Missing skirting / ceiling height data
❌ Electrical cut-outs not finalized
❌ Hardware not frozen
❌ Grain direction not specified


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