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Manufacturing agreement template

Manufacturing agreement: A manufacturing agreement engages a manufacturer to produce goods to the customer’s specifications, covering quality, tooling, pricing and IP.

Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · 6 clauses · General guidance, not legal advice

Upload yours for a review and e-signature, or save it as a team template.

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When to use a manufacturing agreement

  • Outsourcing production to a contract manufacturer
  • White-label or private-label products
  • Producing to your own designs overseas

Manufacturing agreement template: clause-by-clause outline

Sample starting wording for each clause. Replace the text in [brackets] with your details.

  1. Products and specifications

    The Manufacturer will make the Products to the specifications in Schedule 1.

  2. Quality control

    The Manufacturer will follow the quality plan, keep batch records and allow inspections.

  3. Tooling

    Moulds and tooling paid for by the Customer belong to the Customer and will be returned on request.

  4. IP and confidentiality

    The Customer’s designs and specifications remain its property and may be used only to make the Products.

  5. Defects

    Products that fail specifications will be replaced or credited at the Manufacturer’s cost.

  6. Product liability and insurance

    The Manufacturer will hold product liability insurance of at least [amount].

What to check before you sign

  • Who owns tooling and moulds?
  • Is your IP protected in the manufacturer’s country?
  • Are acceptance testing and defect remedies clear?

How to send a manufacturing agreement for e-signature

  1. Draft or upload it. Use the outline above with your own wording, upload an existing document, or save it as your organisation’s template.
  2. Check it against your playbook. Points outside your positions are flagged, and approval rules route it to Legal when needed.
  3. Send it by email. Signers get a plain-language review and a secure link, sign on any device in the order you set, and can suggest changes as tracked changes.
  4. Keep the signed PDF. Everyone receives it with a certificate of completion, and key dates go to Upcoming with reminders.

Manufacturing agreement template: frequently asked questions

How do I protect my design when manufacturing abroad?

Combine an NNN or confidentiality clause, clear IP ownership, ownership of tooling and, where useful, local IP registrations.

What is an acceptable defect rate?

Set an agreed quality level (AQL) in the specification so inspection has a clear pass mark.

Is an electronically signed manufacturing agreement legally binding?

In most countries, yes. E-signatures are recognised for commercial contracts under laws such as the ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS (EU), the Electronic Communications Act (UK) and the Information Technology Act (India). econtracts.ai adds a certificate of completion with each signer’s identity check and a fingerprint of the signed content.

Can I get a manufacturing agreement I received reviewed?

Yes. Upload it to econtracts.ai and you get a plain-language review: key dates, money and points to check, each quoting the clause it comes from.

Related contract templates

Supply agreement templateSupply agreementNDA templateMutual non-disclosure agreementSales agreement templateSales agreement

This outline is a starting point for discussion, not legal advice, and it is not a complete contract. Laws differ by country and sector; have a qualified lawyer review contracts that matter.