Start with the decision
Begin with the application and the exact construction. Replacing another material with a fibre-based option can change finish, durability, weight, fitting and care. Document these questions so an attractive sourcing statement does not hide a service limitation.
Build the record
Record grade, core and faces, thickness, print, coating, adhesive and support. Keep manufacturer recommendations and evidence scoped to their variants and conditions. Include the comparison baseline and the limitations of any prototype or informal handling trial.
Check before acting
Check exposure, fixing, repeated handling and receiver acceptance. If a needed requirement is unresolved, identify the next evidence or competent review instead of ranking the option suitable. A limitation is useful design information; it can lead to a changed brief, different construction or better retention plan.
Worked example — illustrative
A fictional buyer proposes a fibre panel for a repeated display programme. A sample performs well visually, but outdoor use and cleaning remain unsupported. The team records that boundary and assesses a sheltered interior application instead. Its published account describes the actual service and evidence rather than calling the material a universal substitute.
Keep a useful handover
Close the “Document the limits of a paper-based alternative” decision with a named owner and a dated evidence version. The next working record is “Explore material references”. Record whether that step is planned or confirmed; retain the prior decision if new information changes the instruction.
- Name the exact construction.
- Record supported conditions.
- List unresolved requirements.
- Keep the baseline fair.
- Publish a bounded conclusion.
