Over the years, it never fails to surprise me just how complex and involved it can be to take on a new client or project. For those of you unacquainted with the process, once a verbal exchange has taken place to move forward with a design and development proposal, there follows an almost endless paper trail of agreements. Of course, along the line there may be some disagreements, but in the end these will need resolving, in order to form a legally binding and workable contract.
As much as we would love to steam ahead at full pace, reacting to a new idea, design or concept, we have to exercise restraint until all the paperwork is in place. This includes consultancy and confidentiality agreements, which, quite rightly, are implemented to ensure there are restrictions on privacy and non-disclosure to third parties. At this stage, it is also documented what services are going to be provided, when and at what cost, which, for a small business, is preferable that payment terms are agreed to be the shortest period possible.
A good client-supplier partnership will also ensure that further agreements have been made regarding the storage of CAD files and the so-called paper trail. A client will often send us their existing templates so that we can create parts and then drawings that are designed in line with specific industry standards, including aspects such as tolerance limits, materials, and a specific layout as required to align the new CAD data within other existing constraints etc.
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