OEM & ODM program
The commercial frame behind the schedule: customization scope, 500-piece OEM minimum, 100-piece stock route and sample fees credited.
Open the OEM/ODM pageBlog · B2B Buying Guide
Torch Lead Times Explained: Deposit to Delivery
"Lead time" gets quoted as one number and experienced as three: sampling before production, production itself, and shipping plus customs after. Misunderstanding which window a supplier is actually quoting is the most common cause of missed launch dates in importing. This guide breaks a torch order into its real phases, explains what happens inside the 15-20 day production window that starts when the deposit lands, and shows what stretches each phase.
About a 6-minute read · English edition
The short answer: under our current terms, production runs 15-20 days after the deposit is received - that window covers manufacturing, per-unit testing and export packing. Sampling happens before it, and transit plus customs happen after it. A buyer who plans with all three windows, not just the middle one, hits dates.
What the 15-20 days actually contains
The production window is not idle time waiting for a machine; it is a sequence. Materials are staged against the bill of materials; shells in your color run ahead of assembly; assembly marries the valve, igniter and body; and every unit passes the factory's test battery - 20+ checks covering air-tightness, ignition, pressure and backfire - before it reaches packing. Export packing for flame tools follows the dangerous-goods requirements of the route, so carton work is part of the window too, not an afterthought.
What happens before the window opens
The deposit is not the start of the story. Before it come the inquiry, the quotation, artwork confirmation, drawings and the sample - and the sample fee is credited against the bulk order. The clock that matters starts when two preconditions are simultaneously true: money received and specification frozen. A deposit against artwork that is still changing buys queue position, not schedule.
What stretches each phase
| Phase | What happens | Duration | What stretches it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling | Artwork check, sample build, your evaluation | Varies with customization depth; confirmed at request | Late artwork, unclear evaluation criteria |
| Production | Materials, assembly, 20+ tests per unit, export packing | 15-20 days after deposit (current terms) | Configuration changes mid-run, payment delay |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Sampling of packed goods against golden sample | Scheduled within days of completion | Inspector availability in peak season |
| Transit | Port to port by the booked mode | Varies by mode and destination - forwarder's quote | Seasonal space pressure, route changes |
| Customs & delivery | Entry filing, release, inland legs | Varies by destination - broker's call | Document gaps, inspection holds |
The pattern is consistent: the windows a factory controls (sampling, production, inspection) have quotable durations, and the windows your forwarder and broker control (transit, customs) have quotable ranges only for a specific lane and season. Ask for both, in writing, when you ask for the price.
How to protect your launch date
- Freeze artwork before sampling concludes. Specification drift is the leading cause of slipped production starts.
- Confirm the configuration completely at the RFQ. Every late-added colorway reopens the drawing stage.
- Book the inspection when you release the order, not when production ends - peak-season inspector slots go first.
- Get transit and clearance as dated quotes from your forwarder for the actual lane and season.
- Buffer each edge, not just the total. A calendar with slack at both ends survives one surprise; a calendar with none does not.
- Consider the two-track route: a stock model from 100 pcs serves the channel while the branded 500-piece run is prepared - payment terms (T/T, L/C negotiable) are set in the proforma.
Reading a supplier's lead-time quote
When you receive one, ask three questions: from what event does the window run (deposit received and specification frozen, or merely order placed)? What does it include (testing and packing, or assembly only)? And what does it exclude (everything the forwarder owns)? A quote that answers all three is a schedule; a quote that answers none is a hope. The OEM/ODM page states our current terms in full - and the RFQ form is where you get them applied to a specific order with dates.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long from deposit to shipment?
Production runs 15-20 days after the deposit is received, under current terms - that window covers manufacturing, per-unit testing and export packing. Sampling happens before the deposit, and shipping happens after the window closes.
When does the lead-time clock actually start?
On both preconditions being met: the deposit is received and the specification is frozen - drawings approved, sample confirmed, configuration complete. A deposit against a moving specification starts an argument, not a schedule, which is why artwork should be final before sampling concludes.
Does customization make the lead time longer?
Customization adds preparation before the production window rather than extending it: artwork confirmation, drawing checks and sample approval happen up front. The 15-20 day production window applies once the order is released - the schedule for a specific configuration is confirmed at the RFQ stage.
How long does shipping take after production?
Transit depends on mode and destination, and customs adds its own variable on top - both belong to your freight forwarder's quote, and both shift with season and route. Plan the calendar as production window plus transit plus clearance, with buffer on each edge.
Can a production lead time be shortened?
It depends on line loading and season, and any accommodation is assessed case by case - ask early and confirm in writing. The dependable ways to hit a date are structural: start with a stock model from 100 pcs while the branded run is prepared, and freeze artwork before sampling.
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