QUALITY CONTROL · 6 MIN READ
Production complete vs approved vs delivered: what changes?
One word—done—can conceal three different decisions. Clear state boundaries prevent an editor’s submission from becoming an accidental client delivery.
QUICK ANSWER
Production complete means the responsible maker has submitted the expected output. Approved means an authorized reviewer has checked that output against the job scope and accepted the current version. Delivered means the approved client package was sent or made accessible to the intended recipient and the handoff was recorded. These are separate events with separate owners.
Give each state an observable entry rule
Define states by evidence, not by confidence. A file in a folder does not prove that production is complete, and an approved asset does not prove the client received it.
Apply these states at the deliverable level when a job contains photos, video, drone media or a floor plan.
| State | Required evidence | Responsible decision |
|---|---|---|
| Production complete | Expected output and version submitted | Maker confirms submission |
| Approved | Reviewer records acceptance against scope | Authorized reviewer |
| Delivered | Intended package and recipient handoff recorded | Delivery owner |
Keep review between production and delivery
The reviewer checks the correct property, ordered scope, current version, special instructions and agreed output requirements. A correction returns the affected deliverable to production without erasing the rejected submission or its feedback.
Approval should identify the accepted version. Otherwise a later export can quietly replace the item that was actually reviewed.
- Submitted is waiting for a decision.
- Changes requested names the exact correction.
- Approved identifies the accepted version.
- Delivery ready confirms all required dispositions and package checks.
Handle mixed states on one property job
For an illustrative order, photos may be approved, a floor plan may need one correction, and video may still be in production. The overall job is not fully approved or delivered. The coordinator can decide whether to wait or arrange a clearly documented partial delivery with the client.
Do not collapse the order to the most advanced item or the most delayed item. Show each required output and the whole-job decision separately.
Record the transition, not just the label
Keep who changed the state, when, which version it concerned and any note required for the next owner. This creates a usable trail when a revision arrives after delivery.
If people frequently skip a state, inspect the workflow. The fix may be a clearer owner, acceptance checklist or package gate—not another status name.