How Shelf can help you track your golden samples easily and effectively

If you're looking for a simple and effective way to track your golden samples, you might want to check out shelf. shelf is an asset tracking platform that lets you create, manage, and search your inventory using QR labels and your smartphone. In this post, we'll explain what golden samples are, why they are important for product quality, and how shelf.nu can help you track them easily and effectively.

This post was written by Carlos Virreira, Founder at shelf.nu. Carlos has over 10 years of experience in the software / asset tracking industry and is passionate about helping businesses improve their efficiency and productivity. You can contact him at carlos@shelf.nu.

This post was published on June 21, 2023 and updated on July 15, 2023.

What are golden samples?

Golden samples, also called approval samples, are samples that your manufacturer sends to you before mass production. They represent a perfectly-made product that completely aligns with your product quality standards. They are the result of an approval process that works as follows:

• The supplier sends you pre-production samples.
• You check the samples and either approve or reject them.
• If rejected, the supplier produces new samples.
• Once approved, the supplier can start production.

You will need to save the final samples, and they should be signed, dated, and sealed. Generally, you will need several of them:

• One for the manufacturer to hold on to.
• Some samples for your third-party inspectors.
• One for you to keep for your reference.

These samples serve as a standard for comparison to all future production goods. They help you set expectations with your manufacturer and prevent quality fade.

Why are golden samples important?

Golden samples are important because they help you ensure product quality and consistency throughout mass production. They also help you avoid disputes and misunderstandings with your manufacturer.

For example, let's say you're making ceramic mugs and an issue develops with their color after a year or two. They are coming off the line in what appears to be candy red, but they are supposed to have more of a deep crimson red. Your supplier argues that they're red, just like you requested, so you pull out the approval sample for a side-by-side comparison. Upon examining it, the supplier can clearly see there is a significant difference and that they need to remake the mugs.

Without a golden sample, you would have no objective way to prove that the color has changed over time. You would have to rely on your memory or subjective perception, which could lead to arguments and delays.

Another example is when you lose or damage your golden samples. This can happen due to accidents, thefts, natural disasters, or human errors. If you don't have a backup copy of your golden samples, you might have trouble reproducing them or verifying their quality.

For instance, one of our customers had a fire in their warehouse that destroyed their golden samples along with their inventory. They had no other way to check if their new production goods matched their quality standards. They had to go through the approval process again with their manufacturer, which cost them time and money.

How can shelf.nu help you track your golden samples?

Shelf.nu is an asset tracking platform that can help you track your golden samples using QR labels and your smartphone. Here are some of the benefits of using shelf.nu for golden sample tracking:

• Easy to set up and use: You don't need any extra equipment or software to use shelf.nu. Just print your own QR labels, stick them to your golden samples, and scan them with your smartphone.
• Visual and customisable: You can add photos, videos, notes, comments, and custom fields to each golden sample page, making it easy to identify and categorize them. You can also rearrange and modify your pages as needed.
• Location tracking: You can keep track of where your golden samples are located by syncing and pinning their last scanned location on a map. This helps you avoid losing or misplacing them.
• Full database search: You can find any information on your golden samples instantly by using the full database search tool. You can also filter and sort your results by various criteria, such as date, location, status, etc.
• CSV export: You can export your data to CSV format for sharing with other tools or making insurance claims.

Shelf.nu is a powerful asset management platform that can help you streamline your golden sample tracking process. Whether you're a small business owner or a large enterprise, shelf.nu can help you save time, reduce errors, and improve efficiency.

Get started with shelf for free today. Register an account or get in touch with support.