Scope

This reference is the per-category sign-off checklist used during setup validation in Estimate Setup and Manage Estimates. It is a structured form, not a glossary — every row carries an action and the UI surface to read for the signal. Copy the checklist into the shop's implementation workbook or comparison matrix and complete one set per revenue-critical category before go-live. The Create validation quotes task article walks through running the actual quotes; this reference is the closeout list.

A. Tenant prerequisites (once per shop)

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
Substrates configured and Applied	Estimate Setup → Substrates. Pending Changes count = 0.	Every substrate the shop will quote on appears in the table with a non-zero price per ton.	Every quote that uses one of these substrates.
Print machines configured	Estimate Setup → Print Machines. Pending Changes count = 0.	Every press the shop will run has machine rate, plate cost, and running speed filled.	Route selection and the Print line on every quote.
Finishing and binding machines configured	Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines and → Binding Machines. Pending Changes count = 0.	Every cutter, folder, laminator, stitcher, and binder the shop will run has setup time, running speed, and rates filled.	Cut, Fold, Bind, and Laminate lines on every quote.
Machine tags aligned	Estimate Setup → Print Machines / Finishing Machines / Binding Machines → Tags column. Cross-check against the product part tags.	Tags on substrates, machines, and product parts match where compatibility filtering is intended.	Whether the right press and finishing steps qualify on quotes.
Product categories and parts live	Estimate Setup → Products → Categories.	Every revenue-critical category has parts, production steps, and conditional steps assigned.	What appears in the New Estimate category picker.
Custom price models for required add-ons	Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines / Binding Machines → Custom (Price Model). Pending Changes count = 0.	Every add-on the shop charges for has a price-model row with non-zero rates.	The custom step lines on quotes.
Default bucket markups and pricing rules reviewed	Estimate Setup → Products → Categories (markup columns); Estimate Setup → Pricing Rules.	Markup percentages match the finance lead's intent; every rule has the correct conditions, actions, and status.	The commercial price on every quote in every category.
Test customer (or production customer) exists	Manage Estimates → Customers list.	A customer record is selectable when creating an estimate.	The validation quotes themselves.

B. Per category sign-off

Complete one set of these rows per revenue-critical category. Record the category name, who validated it, and the date in the heading.

Setup completeness

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
Category visible on Create estimate	Manage Estimates → Create new estimate → Category picker.	The category appears in the picker.	Whether estimators can quote this category at all.
Finished sizes and colour options correct	Manage Estimates → New estimate → Spec fields after picking the category.	The size and colour options shown match the shop's expected list.	The spec the estimator can offer.
Production steps on each part match the intended route	Estimate Setup → Products → Categories → category row → Parts → Production Steps.	The steps listed are the ones the shop actually runs on this category.	Which steps appear in the price breakdown.
Conditional steps assigned where add-ons should appear	Estimate Setup → Products → Conditional Steps.	Every add-on the category should offer is linked to the category.	Whether add-ons appear (or can be added) on quotes.

Validation quotes (record matrix row IDs)

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
Quote runs at every planned quantity	Manage Estimates → quote screen.	Every matrix row has an Estimator price recorded.	Whether the category has been tested across the bands the shop sells.
Spec summary matches the matrix row	Manage Estimates → quote screen → Spec area.	The size, page count, colour, substrate, and finishing options on the quote match what the matrix row specifies.	The validity of the comparison.
Reference price recorded for each row	Comparison matrix (spreadsheet or shared doc).	Every matrix row has both a reference and an Estimator price.	The pass/fail decision.
Step match confirmed per row	Manage Estimates → quote → See price breakdown.	The matrix row lists the steps that appeared on the quote (Print, Cut, Fold, Bind, custom steps).	Where to debug if a row fails.
Pass / fail marked per row	Comparison matrix.	Every row is marked inside or outside the agreed band.	Whether the category is ready for sign-off.

Production cost sanity (markups optionally zeroed)

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
Press and route match expectation	Quote → See price breakdown → route header.	The right press is selected for the spec.	Substrate cost, machine cost, and finishing cost on the quote.
Substrate cost in band	Quote → See price breakdown → Substrate row.	The substrate cost is inside the agreed band against the shop's reference for the same sheet.	The Substrate bucket on every quote in this category.
Cut, fold, and bind times in band	Quote → See price breakdown → Cut / Fold / Bind step rows.	Each step's make-ready and run time is inside the agreed band against operator-log values.	The Labor and Machine buckets on every quote in this category.
Guillotine pretrim behaves as expected (cut-heavy categories)	Quote → See price breakdown → Cut step → cut count and pass count.	The cut count matches the shop's expected pretrim strategy for the spec.	The Cut line cost on every quote in this category.

Commercial price (markups restored)

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
Default markups produce an acceptable sell price	Quote → totals row. Markups restored to the configured percentages.	The Final price is inside the agreed band for every matrix row.	Whether the category goes live with default pricing.
Pricing rules tested	Quote → See price breakdown → Pricing rules applied footer.	The rules expected to fire for this category appear in the footer with the right adjustment.	The exceptions on quotes for matched customers and quantities.
Adjustment-model headline plausible	Quote → totals row → adjustment-model figure (Gross Profit %, VA per Press Hour, or VA %).	The headline is in the range the finance lead expects for this category.	The commercial story the team can defend.
Issues logged with owner and layer	Comparison matrix.	Every fail is tagged with the layer (production setup / product / pricing) and an owner.	The follow-up actions before final sign-off.

Category approved for production use: yes / no (record blockers).

C. Program sign-off (once)

Check	Where to look	When this is complete	What depends on it
All revenue-critical categories passed section B	Comparison matrix.	Every category row carries a pass mark on every matrix row.	Whether the shop can go live.
Known gaps documented	Implementation workbook.	Wave-2 product-specific guides and pending integrations are listed with owners.	The post-launch backlog.
Estimation team trained on See price breakdown and Pricing rules applied	Internal training log.	Estimators have walked through reading the breakdown and the rule audit on at least one live spec.	Live-quoting confidence.
Support path for pricing disputes agreed	Implementation workbook.	An owner and a process exist for post-launch pricing questions.	Day-2 governance.