Receiving starts before the vehicle arrives: people, equipment, access and records all need a plan.
Planning illustration only; not a construction drawing or supporting evidence.
01
Confirm access and unloading
Check the delivery location, unloading responsibility, equipment and available space against the actual package information. Follow the supplied handling guidance and the site’s safety requirements.
02
Record the received condition
Identify packages against the packing list and document visible condition before moving or opening them. Follow the agreed carrier and supplier procedure if damage or discrepancies are observed.
03
Keep identification through storage
Retain product, shade, batch and package references. Store and handle material according to the product and packaging instructions so that parts can be matched to the installation schedule.
Make the delivery record useful before opening the packages
Receiving is an information task as well as a handling task. The team on site needs to know what is arriving, how it is identified and what to record if the condition differs from the packing information.
01
Prepare a receiving pack for the people doing the work
Give the receiving team the expected package marks, counts and the relevant handling instructions. Identify the contact for discrepancies and the required reporting process. An office approval email is not useful if the unloading team cannot access it when the vehicle arrives.
Provide the expected arrival and receiving location.
Confirm who can authorise opening or moving packages.
02
Document condition in a repeatable sequence
AI-generated design illustration; not a supplied product or completed project.
Record the exterior condition and identification before unpacking, following the agreed procedure and site safety controls. Match the delivery to the packing list. Where a discrepancy is seen, preserve the record and contact the relevant parties before taking actions that could obscure the original condition.
Photograph identifying marks with any visible damage.
Keep delivery paperwork and dated observations together.
03
Store by identity and future use
AI-generated design illustration; not a supplied product or completed project.
Organise storage so material can be retrieved without losing its model, shade or batch reference. Follow the specific packaging and product instructions for supports and orientation. If material is assigned to several floors or rooms, keep that allocation visible during relocation and unpacking.
Retain protective packaging and labels as instructed.
Mark reserved replacement stock separately from installation stock.
04
Hypothetical exercise: record two different arrival discrepancies
Planning illustration only; not a construction drawing or supporting evidence.
Suppose the expected delivery list contains packages P01 to P05. At the receiving point, the team identifies only four packages, and P04 also shows visible exterior damage. Keep these as two observations: the missing reference and the condition of a present package. Do not reduce them to one undifferentiated “delivery damaged” note. Following the agreed receiving and carrier procedure, record the package marks, counts, time and photographs, then contact the named parties for instructions. Preserve the original documentation and avoid actions that would hide the arrival condition. If authorised movement is necessary, update the location record so P04 can still be found and distinguished from unaffected packages. This invented scenario does not decide liability, specify a carrier claim deadline or instruct unsafe unloading. It demonstrates a clearer evidence record for the receiving team and the subsequent commercial discussion.
Match every observation to a package mark rather than only a product name.
Keep a visible status for unresolved packages so they are not silently allocated to installation.
A PRACTICAL BUYER’S REFERENCE
Receiving records worth retaining
Receiving records worth retaining
Record
When to make it
Why it helps
Package count and marks
Before unloading is completed
Compare delivery with the packing list
Visible package condition
Before opening or relocation
Preserve the arrival evidence
Storage location
At each internal transfer
Find the correct material later
Preparing to receive slabs and tiles
Questions buyers ask
Should the installer discard product labels once a room is finished?+
Keep a record before disposal. Labels can help identify the installed model or batch when discussing replacements or a later enquiry.
Can I prescribe one storage method for slabs and cartons?+
Use the instructions for the actual supplied packaging and product. Large slabs, processed parts and tile cartons may require different supports, access and handling arrangements.
LET’S START A CONVERSATION
Your next project
starts with a surface.
Tell us what you are sourcing. We will help turn your requirements into a clear product enquiry.
