The stages in a realistic schedule
- Specification
- Quantity, size, stock, print, finish, hole position, attachment and versions must be agreed.
- Artwork check
- Files are reviewed for dimensions, bleed, colour setup, fonts, images and special-finish separations.
- Proof and approval
- Production can start only when the decision-maker has approved the correct version.
- Manufacture and finishing
- Printing may be followed by lamination, cutting, drilling, foiling, embossing, perforating or stringing.
- Dispatch
- Courier time begins after production and depends on destination and service.
What commonly extends lead time
Late artwork changes, missing fonts, low-resolution images, unclear special-finish layers, multiple versions and unconfirmed delivery details all create avoidable pauses. Bespoke cutting formes, unusual materials or manually attached strings can add production stages that are not present on a simple flat tag.
How to protect a launch date
- Work backwards from the date tags must arrive, not the public launch date.
- Allow time for artwork corrections and internal approval.
- Share the deadline before choosing materials and finishes.
- Approve one named decision-maker and a final artwork version.
- Do not book downstream packing until the production date is confirmed.
When an express option may help
Express production is most realistic for a straightforward specification with print-ready artwork and available stock. Reducing complexity may protect the deadline more effectively than simply requesting faster delivery. Ask which variables can change before assuming every finish can be rushed.