The commission process

Establish what is being considered, where it will be used and which decisions are still open.

You provide

• Intended setting and use
• Approximate overall size or available envelope
• Subject, style or reference material the client is authorised to share
• Required-on-site date, delivery country or postcode and known access constraints
• Project stage, decision-makers and any known technical requirements

Deliverables

• Brief record: A dated summary of the intended piece, setting, approximate scale and stated priorities.
• Open-questions log: Missing dimensions, permissions, site facts and specialist decisions that affect feasibility.
• Scope-fit response: A record of whether there is enough information to begin a feasibility discussion, without implying acceptance of an order.

Decision gate

Is there a sufficiently clear and lawful basis for a feasibility review?

Timing

Starts when an initial enquiry with enough contact and project context is received. Depends on the clarity of the brief, permission to use supplied references and whether sensitive files require an approved transfer route.

Test the proposed form, material basis, supply boundary and site interfaces before a firm scope is priced.

You provide

• Available site dimensions, photographs and surveys
• Access, lifting, exposure, drainage and foundation information known at this stage
• Architectural, conservation, structural or appliance constraints
• Required interfaces with bases, walls, frames, services or other trades
• Any procurement, testing, sample or approval requirements

Deliverables

• Feasibility note: The proposed route, key constraints, unresolved risks and any specialist review needed before commitment.
• Preliminary specification basis: Working dimensions, piece strategy, material shortlist, finish intent and assumptions, clearly marked as not yet approved for production.
• Responsibility and exclusion schedule: The proposed boundary between design information, stone supply, logistics, unloading, local engineering and installation.
• Evidence request: Samples, test information, surveys or calculations needed to resolve project-specific questions.

Decision gate

Is the proposed design and supply boundary feasible enough to quote?

Timing

Starts when the brief and available site information are sufficient for review. Depends on design complexity, material availability, access information and the response time of any client-appointed or separately agreed specialist.

Turn the reviewed scope into written commercial terms that can be compared and accepted without hidden assumptions.

You provide

• Correct purchasing party and billing details
• Target programme and required decision dates
• Requested delivery destination and services
• Required samples, drawings, models, inspections and document formats
• Known tax, procurement or contract requirements for review

Deliverables

• Itemised quotation: The pieces, design work, samples, making, packing and delivery services actually included, with currency and stated tax treatment.
• Approval and revision schedule: Included review stages, authorised approver, revision allowance and change-control basis.
• Payment schedule: Project-specific invoice events, amounts or percentages, due dates and the scope or evidence attached to each event.
• Programme basis: The defined start event, dependencies and separate design, production, inspection and logistics milestones, without a universal lead-time claim.
• Delivery basis: Where relevant, the Incoterms® rule and named place, importer, customs, duty, tax, unloading and installation assumptions.

Decision gate

Have the authorised parties agreed the written scope and commercial basis required to begin detailed development?

Timing

Starts when the scope is stable enough to price and the purchasing party is known. Depends on the completeness of the specification, current material and freight information, specialist inputs and any requested contract review.

Create a versioned record of the visible form, key interfaces and material decision before production.

You provide

• Consolidated comments from the authorised aesthetic and technical reviewers
• Confirmed site dimensions and interfaces required for the agreed approval stage
• Decisions on acceptable natural variation, finish and layout priorities
• Approval or rejection against the stated purpose of each document or sample

Deliverables

• Approval package: Versioned drawings and visuals, with maquette, prototype or other model only where included in the quotation.
• Material approval record: The identified sample, range, current block imagery or source information used for the decision, together with stated limitations.
• Decision register: Dated approvals, comments, exceptions and the identity of the authorised approver.
• Production release record: The exact approved revision and any remaining hold points; it is not issued while material or interface decisions remain unresolved.

Decision gate

Is the identified design and material basis approved for the stated production purpose?

Timing

Starts when the quotation or contract is in place and the agreed design-development inputs are available. Depends on the number of quoted review rounds, speed of consolidated decisions, sample or block availability and resolution of technical interfaces.

Make to the approved basis while keeping material, process evidence, exceptions and changes traceable.

You provide

• Timely decisions at any agreed hold point
• Written response to a material exception or proposed change
• No informal instruction that conflicts with the approved revision

Deliverables

• Controlled fabrication information: The current drawings, piece references, dimensions, finish references and inspection points used by the appointed fabrication team.
• Material and process record: Available block or batch linkage and the CNC, hand-carving, assembly or finishing stages actually used, without an unsupported hand-made claim.
• Progress evidence: Images, measurements or reports at the stages expressly included in the contract.
• Exception and change log: Natural features, deviations, corrective work and approved changes recorded against the affected piece and revision.

Decision gate

Are the pieces and production records sufficiently complete to enter pre-dispatch inspection?

Timing

Starts only when the contractually defined production-start conditions, approvals and payment event have been met. Depends on stone availability, quantity, geometry, detail, tooling, agreed inspections, approved changes and any corrective work.

Check the identified pieces against the agreed inspection basis before packing and commercial release.

You provide

• Named authorised reviewer and decision route
• Any independent inspection appointment agreed in advance
• Prompt response to documented exceptions that require a commercial decision

Deliverables

• Inspection record: The checks actually completed for identity, dimensions, visible finish, condition and agreed interfaces, with method and limitations stated.
• Exception close-out: Accepted departures, remedial records, reinspection evidence and unresolved matters, if any.
• Packing and identification set: Piece and crate references, packing list, available weights or estimates, handling cautions and condition evidence before closure.
• Dispatch recommendation: A commercial milestone against the contract, not a certificate that replaces local installation or structural checks.

Decision gate

Has the contractually defined dispatch milestone been met and recorded?

Timing

Starts when production records indicate that the agreed pieces are ready for the defined inspection. Depends on inspection scope, reviewer availability, safe access, any remedial work, reinspection and packing requirements.

Move the identified shipment under an agreed delivery basis and transfer usable records to the receiving and installation teams.

You provide

• Confirmed delivery address, contacts, opening restrictions and safe vehicle access
• Named importer and customs representative where required
• Site readiness, unloading equipment, operators and temporary storage plan
• Local installation lead and any final document requests agreed before dispatch

Deliverables

• Shipping document set: Commercial invoice, packing list and route-specific carrier or customs information as applicable to the agreed transaction.
• Delivery responsibility record: The agreed Incoterms® rule and named place, risk and cost boundaries, importer, clearance, duty, tax, unloading and final-mile allocation.
• Handover pack: Approved piece references, installation-interface information actually included, handling cautions, arrival-record process and stone-specific care guidance.
• Receipt and exception record: Delivery documentation and safely obtained condition evidence, without treating receipt as confirmation of installation.

Decision gate

Are the contracted delivery milestone, receipt records and responsibility handover complete?

Timing

Starts when dispatch conditions are met, booking information is confirmed and the receiving route is ready. Depends on carrier schedules, route changes, customs clearance, border or port processes, weather, final-mile access and the receiving team's readiness.