“Production has started” tells you that work is underway. It does not tell you which part of your order is being worked on, how much is complete, or whether the supplier can still meet the agreed date.
For an overseas buyer following an industrial order, a useful update connects completed work to identifiable goods and explains what remains. At ESG, we recommend using that information to decide whether to keep following the current plan, ask the supplier to adjust it, or prepare another option.
Find out what has been completed, and for how much of the order
Ask the supplier to describe progress through the stages that apply to your product. Those might include material preparation, machining, assembly and testing, but the sequence will depend on what you have ordered.
The quantity matters as much as the stage. If assembly has started on part of the order, find out where the remaining units stand. For a single machine, identify which assemblies or components are complete and which are still being worked on.
Be careful with a statement such as “80% complete.” Ask what the percentage measures. It might describe units assembled, operations completed or an estimate of the work done. None of those automatically tells you how long the remaining work will take.
Connect the update to your order
A photograph of a machine cutting metal shows production activity. On its own, it may say little about your order.
Ask for a recent record that can be connected to the goods you are buying. Depending on the product, that could be a progress sheet carrying your order reference, photographs with batch or item labels, or a short video identifying the model and quantity shown. Confirm when the record was made and what portion of the order it covers.
Keep the request proportionate. The supplier does not need to disclose every internal production record or another customer’s information. A short update with clear references may answer the question. If a photograph and the reported quantity appear inconsistent, ask the supplier to explain the difference before relying on the update.
These records support a progress assessment. They do not establish final quality or prove that unshown work is complete. Once the goods are finished, use the separate pre-shipment inspection checklist for industrial equipment to plan the relevant checks.
Give the unfinished work the most attention
The next useful question is what prevents the supplier from finishing. Ask which tasks remain, their expected completion dates, and whether one task must finish before another can begin.
Consider this hypothetical example, not an ESG customer project: a machine’s main assembly is complete, but its control cabinet has not arrived. The supplier plans to test the machine after the cabinet is fitted.
Another photograph of the main assembly would add little to the delivery discussion. The buyer needs to know when the cabinet is expected, whether that date is confirmed, how long fitting will take, and when testing can start. If the cabinet date changes, the test date may change too.
Ask the supplier to explain any proposed adjustment. If it says other work can continue while the cabinet is pending, find out which work and whether that changes the expected finish date. Do not assume every remaining task must happen in sequence, or that all of them can happen at the same time.
Keep a short note of the unresolved item, the supplier’s expected date and the next point at which it can be checked. If a decision or drawing approval is outstanding on your side, include that too. The purpose is to identify what needs attention while there is still time to act.
Check whether the promised date still has a basis
First agree what the date means. Production completion, readiness for collection, dispatch and arrival are different points in the order. Ask the supplier to use the same meaning in each update.
Then compare the remaining work with that commitment. If the date means ready for collection, the plan needs to account for the required tests, documents and packing as well as production. An arrival commitment also needs a transport plan.
When a stage slips, “We will catch up” needs an explanation: what will change, when, and which later dates are affected? Ask for an updated sequence that reflects the delay. Keep dates that depend on an unconfirmed component or test slot identified as estimates.
Agree when the next update will arrive and what it should confirm. A follow-up after the pending component’s expected arrival can be more useful than another general request for progress. If that milestone is missed, revisit the delivery estimate immediately.
If the revised timing no longer meets your needs, our article on assessing an in-stock alternative after a supplier delay covers the next purchasing decision.
A short production progress follow-up email
Adapt the order reference and date below to your purchase. Replace “ready for collection” if your agreement uses a different delivery milestone.
Subject: Production update for PO [number]
Hi [Name],
Thanks for confirming that production has started. Could you send a short update for PO [number], showing which stages are complete and the quantities at each stage? A recent progress sheet or a few dated photos linked to our order would help.
Please also let us know what remains, the expected completion dates, and anything currently holding up the next step.
Is [date] still achievable for the full order to be ready for collection? If anything has changed, please share the revised date and what it depends on. When can we expect the next update?
Thanks, [Your name]
Discuss an unclear production update with ESG
Send the product or model, order quantity, promised date and your supplier’s latest progress update. Contact ESG to discuss which points need clarification, including any missing information that affects your delivery planning.
