Preparing for Peak Season: The Complete Production Checklist
Peak season is prepared months in advance. The brands that approach year-end holidays calmly are those who anticipated. This checklist guides you step by step in preparing your production for activity peaks.
The Preparation Calendar
Overview
| Month | Main focus | Urgency level |
|---|---|---|
| M-6 (June) | Analysis and forecasts | Low |
| M-5 (July) | Capacity and resources | Low |
| M-4 (August) | Inventory and partners | Medium |
| M-3 (September) | Advance production | Medium |
| M-2 (October) | Ramping up | High |
| M-1 (November) | Execution and oversight | Very high |
| M-0 (December) | Deliveries and urgencies | Maximum |
M-6: Analysis and Forecasts (June)
Analyze History
Data to collect
| Data | Source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Volumes by week (Y-1) | Order history | Forecast basis |
| Best-sellers | Sales statistics | Production focus |
| Delays and incidents | Records | Points to improve |
| Client feedback | Surveys, complaints | Adjustments |
Establish Forecasts
Basic formula
Forecast = Volume Y-1 x (1 + estimated growth rate) x correction factor
Correction factors
- New products launched: +X%
- Lost client: -X%
- Economic context: +/-X%
Deliverable Week-by-week forecast table, from September to January.
M-6 Checklist
- Collect complete historical data
- Analyze peaks and troughs from Y-1
- Identify best-sellers to prioritize
- List previous year's incidents
- Establish weekly forecasts
- Validate with sales team
M-5: Capacity and Resources (July)
Evaluate Internal Capacity
By workstation
| Station | Normal capacity/week | Max capacity (with OT) | Gap vs forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | X pieces | X + 20% | ? |
| Casting | X g | X + 15% | ? |
| Manufacturing | X pieces | X + 25% | ? |
| Setting | X pieces | X + 20% | ? |
| Polishing | X pieces | X + 30% | ? |
Evaluate External Capacity
For each manufacturer
- Normal capacity
- Peak season capacity (confirmed?)
- Closure dates (holidays, bridges)
- Priority given to your orders
Identify Gaps
| Week | Forecast | Total capacity | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| W45 | 120 pieces | 100 pieces | -20 |
| W46 | 150 pieces | 100 pieces | -50 |
| W47 | 180 pieces | 100 pieces | -80 |
Gap Solutions
| Solution | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime | Quick | Fatigue, cost |
| Temp/Contract workers | Added capacity | Training, quality |
| Additional subcontracting | Flexible | Quality, coordination |
| Advance production | Spreads the load | Inventory needs |
| Refuse orders | Preserves quality | Lost revenue |
M-5 Checklist
- Map internal capacity by station
- Confirm capacity with each manufacturer
- Identify partner closure dates
- Calculate week-by-week gaps
- Define solutions for each gap
- Budget additional resources
- Validate plan with management
M-4: Inventory and Partners (August)
Secure Material Inventory
Precious metals
| Material | Current stock | Peak season need | To order |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18K yellow gold | X g | X g | X g |
| 18K white gold | X g | X g | X g |
| 18K rose gold | X g | X g | X g |
| 925 silver | X g | X g | X g |
Stones
| Type | Stock | Need | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamonds 0.10ct G/VS | X pcs | X pcs | Order X |
| Colored stones | X pcs | X pcs | To evaluate |
| Pearls | X pcs | X pcs | OK |
Supplies
| Supply | Stock | Need | Supplier lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clasps | X | X | 3 weeks |
| Chains | X | X | 2 weeks |
| Cases | X | X | 4 weeks |
Confirm Partners
Meeting with each key manufacturer
- Confirm capacities discussed in M-5
- Validate pricing conditions
- Define priorities
- Remind quality requirements
- Plan follow-up meetings
M-4 Checklist
- Complete material inventory
- Order missing metals
- Order necessary stones
- Order supplies (cases, clasps)
- Preparation meeting with each manufacturer
- Formalize commitments in writing
- Update production schedule
- Inform team of peak season setup
M-3: Advance Production (September)
Launch Stock Production
Pieces to produce in advance
- Predictable best-sellers
- Standardized pieces
- Recurring models
Quantities Based on history + safety margin
Set Up Enhanced Monitoring
Peak season dashboard
- Order book by week
- Load by manufacturer
- Finished product inventory
- Delay alerts
Follow-up meetings
- Daily: urgent progress
- Weekly: full portfolio review
- Monthly: review and adjustments
Train Reinforcements
If temps or contract workers:
- Process training
- Product knowledge
- Work tools
- Defined supervision
M-3 Checklist
- List of pieces to produce for stock
- Launch advance production
- Peak season dashboard operational
- Follow-up schedule defined
- Reinforcements recruited and in training
- Emergency procedure documented
- Client communication on lead times
- Initial indicators tracked
M-2: Ramping Up (October)
Activate Peak Season Mode
Switch to "peak" mode
- Daily meetings activated
- Hours adjusted if needed
- Strict prioritization applied
- Rapid problem escalation
Monitor Indicators
| Indicator | Frequency | Alert threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Order book | Daily | Over X days of load |
| Current delays | Daily | Over X orders |
| Manufacturer service rate | Weekly | Under 95% |
| Safety stock | Weekly | Under X pieces |
Handle First Peaks
- Apply prioritization matrix
- Communicate realistic lead times to clients
- Activate backup subcontractors if needed
- Document incidents for post-season analysis
M-2 Checklist
- Daily meetings operational
- Indicators tracked and shared
- Overtime activated if needed
- Backup subcontracting validated
- Client communication on lead times
- Initial forecast adjustments
- Team morale monitored
- Safety stock built
M-1: Execution and Oversight (November)
Full Peak Season Mode
Daily meeting (15 min)
- Update on urgencies
- Prioritization decisions
- Alerts and blockers
- Day's actions
Real-time dashboard
- Orders by status
- Manufacturers with delays
- Today's/week's deliveries
- Remaining capacity
Anticipate Final Orders
Guaranteed delivery cutoff date Clearly communicate to clients the cutoff date to guarantee delivery before Christmas.
Rules after cutoff date
- Orders accepted subject to availability
- No date guarantee
- Possible express surcharge
Protect the Teams
- No back-to-back nights
- Mandatory breaks
- Recognition of efforts
- Visible managerial support
M-1 Checklist
- Daily meetings held
- Dashboard updated in real time
- Cutoff date communicated to clients
- Strict prioritization applied
- Backup manufacturers activated if needed
- Overtime managed (no abuse)
- Team morale monitored and supported
- Incidents documented
M-0: Deliveries and Urgencies (December)
Delivery Focus
Final weeks
- Everything to finish committed orders
- Express logistics if needed
- Quality control maintained (no shortcuts)
- Proactive delivery communication
Handle Final Urgencies
Last-minute requests
- Honestly evaluate feasibility
- Accept only if realistic
- Refuse rather than disappoint
Prepare for Crisis Exit
From around December 20
- Plan compensatory rest
- Prepare debriefing
- Anticipate January (delayed orders)
M-0 Checklist
- All guaranteed orders delivered
- Clients informed of any delays
- Quality maintained to the end
- Team thanked
- Rest planned for January
- Debriefing scheduled
- Lessons noted while fresh
- Success celebrated
After Peak Season
The Debriefing
To be done within 2 weeks of the peak
| Question | Analysis |
|---|---|
| What worked well? | To reproduce |
| What caused problems? | To improve |
| Were forecasts accurate? | Refine the model |
| Was capacity sufficient? | Adjust for next year |
| Which manufacturers excelled? | To reward |
| Which manufacturers failed? | To address or replace |
Improvement Actions
Formalize an action plan with:
- Priority actions
- Owners
- Deadlines
- Planned follow-up
The Tool Supporting Preparation
What LIINK Brings
Visibility Real-time dashboard of portfolio and manufacturers.
Anticipation Alerts on at-risk orders before it's too late.
Coordination Fluid communication with manufacturers, even under pressure.
History Data to analyze and improve year after year.
Conclusion: Preparation Makes the Difference
Peak season will be intense no matter what. But a well-prepared peak season is manageable, even stimulating. An improvised peak season is a nightmare.
Use this checklist, adapt it to your context, and anticipate. Your teams, partners, and clients will thank you.
Further Reading
- Managing Production Emergencies During Jewelry Peak Season
- How to Reduce Jewelry Manufacturing Lead Times by 40%: Case Study
- Jewelry Production Workflow: The 7 Critical Steps for Smooth Manufacturing
Need to better manage your production during peak season? LIINK gives you the visibility and control you need. Discover LIINK