Customer-owned tools and material can sit beside company assets and stock. Some development cost may be recovered through future part prices rather than an immediate bill. The financing review should therefore map the commercial programme and actual acceptance evidence, including what happens if volumes or specifications change.
Distinguish development risk from the established production cycle and keep dedicated assets tied to the contractual recovery route.
Customer-owned material is not company inventory
Job-work operations require careful separation of ownership and value added. A precision unit may use customer-owned material and tools while paying for consumables and outside treatment itself. Reconcile inward material, processing loss, finished goods held for customers and the company’s own purchases. Billing may depend on quantity or quality acceptance. Finance should follow the company’s contractual earning and eligible assets, without counting entrusted material as property available to secure the borrowing.
Contract value is not free cash
An order book should be converted into milestones rather than shown as a single headline. Prototype or development costs may be reimbursed only after samples or later production milestones are accepted. Identify advances already spent, certification conditions, retention, performance obligations and any liquidated-damages exposure. The relevant funding amount comes from the remaining cost to execute and the timing of collectible receipts, after allowing for bank guarantees and existing borrowing against the same contract.
Quality claims can reduce the borrowing base
Sales may remain exposed to rejection, returns or commercial adjustments after dispatch. Dimensional or performance claims may require rework and additional testing before payment becomes available. Build a separate schedule for open claims, replacement obligations and agreed credit notes. Do not present a disputed amount as an ordinary debtor simply because it appears in the ledger. The review should distinguish genuine collection delays from costs required to preserve the customer relationship.