Short answer
Plan on 7–15 days for sampling and 10–20 days for mass production after sample approval at EyeOEM. Those two numbers are the core of the calendar; everything else — freight, customs, marketplace onboarding — sits on top of them.
The delays that catch first-time buyers are almost never the factory. They are: packaging not being ready when the formula is, a claim that needs reformulating to pass compliance review, artwork revisions late in the run, and booking production during a peak season without reserving capacity.
The single highest-leverage thing you can do is freeze artwork and packaging decisions before sampling starts. Packaging is on the critical path far more often than formulation is.
Side-by-side comparison
| Stage | Typical duration | What can extend it |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and formula selection | Days | Undefined target market or claim |
| Sampling | 7–15 days | Custom substrate or new cutting die |
| Sample approval | Your decision time | Multiple internal stakeholders |
| Packaging and artwork | Runs in parallel | Late artwork changes — the most common delay |
| Mass production | 10–20 days | Peak-season capacity, late spec changes |
| Documentation | Runs in parallel | Market-specific requirements (EU CPNP, US MoCRA) |
When to choose which (and when not to)
| If you are | Plan for |
|---|---|
| Launching on a stock formula | Shortest path — sampling only |
| Developing a new formula | Add stability and compatibility testing |
| Selling into the EU or US | Add documentation lead time |
| Launching for a fixed date | Work backwards and freeze artwork early |
Frequently asked questions
Can production be expedited?
Sometimes, if capacity is available and the specification is frozen. Late specification changes are what make expediting impossible.
When should I place the order for a seasonal launch?
Work backwards from shelf date: add sampling (7–15 days), mass production (10–20 days), freight and customs, then add buffer for artwork revisions.
Does compliance documentation delay shipping?
It delays release if left to the end. We prepare PIF, INCI, SDS, DoC and COA alongside production so documentation is not the bottleneck.
Formulating an eye-care product?
Send your target market, dosage form and estimated quantity — we reply with formulation advice, MOQ tiers, compliance notes and samples.
Request a Quotation Free SamplesRelated: factory capacity and compliance · export document checklist · start a sampling request
EyeOEM · Eye-Care OEM/ODM R&D & Manufacturing · 2026-09-11 · sales@eyeoem.com