What to Record When Approving a Coating Sample

An approval email that says "the sample looks good" leaves too much open to interpretation. A useful sample approval record identifies what was evaluated and which decisions still need confirmation before a private label order proceeds.

Identify the approved configuration

Record the sample reference, date received and intended product role. Attach the approved brief and the instructions used during testing. If several samples arrived in similar bottles, reconcile their identities before making a selection.

List the surfaces and conditions actually evaluated. Approval on glossy clear coat should not silently become approval on matte film, glass and every plastic trim. State any untested applications explicitly.

Separate observations from promises

Record application effort, finish and the wash observations available at that point. Describe the duration and conditions of the evaluation. A brief workshop trial may support an application decision, but it does not establish long-term durability or every environmental resistance claim.

Keep packaging approval separate if the trial bottle differs from the proposed production package. Confirm the final container, closure, label and instructions before treating the complete retail configuration as approved.

Record the remaining actions

• Identify questions requiring a technical answer from NANOLAB.
• Note whether another representative-user trial is needed.
• Name the person responsible for approving final artwork.
• Retain one clearly labelled reference sample under the specified storage conditions.

This record helps future teams understand why a product was selected. Use the sample scorecard to collect the evidence and confirm the next stage with NANOLAB Private Label.