A mock-up supports the next step when it answers the specific uncertainty that the next step depends on. A mock-up that communicates appearance or general form can be useful, but that alone does not establish readiness for later testing, validation, or production. The decision should rest on relevant evidence, not on how complete the mock-up appears.
Start with the next step
Before judging the mock-up, define what the next step is intended to establish. The question may be whether a supplier sample should move into further evaluation, whether a design needs another prototype, or whether a test is required before a decision can be made.
Where the decision concerns a supplier sample, ASQ identifies prototyping, lab testing, and validation testing as methods for evaluating samples obtained from a supplier. These methods answer different questions. A mock-up may help examine form or construction, while a laboratory test or validation activity may be needed to assess a different requirement. Not every sample requires every method; the method should match the uncertainty that remains.
A useful distinction is between:
- what the mock-up demonstrates;
- what it only suggests;
- what still requires testing, validation, or further development.
If those categories are not separated, a visually convincing mock-up can be mistaken for complete evidence.
Check the requirement behind the decision
ASQ says that a quality control plan may specify product tolerances, testing parameters, and acceptance criteria. The word “may” is important. A mock-up does not prove that these requirements have been defined, and a plan does not automatically apply the same requirements to every version of a product.
The reader can check the following:
| Question | Evidence to look for | What it means for the decision |
|---|---|---|
| What must be established at the next step? | A clearly stated requirement or decision question | Without a defined requirement, the mock-up cannot be judged consistently. |
| What does the mock-up actually demonstrate? | Observations, measurements, or test results tied to that requirement | Evidence about appearance cannot automatically support claims about other properties. |
| Which tolerances apply? | The relevant product tolerances, where specified | A mock-up may show general form without confirming dimensional or other product requirements. |
| Which testing parameters matter? | The applicable test conditions or parameters | If the relevant test has not been performed, the test outcome remains unresolved. |
| What counts as acceptable? | Defined acceptance criteria | Without acceptance criteria, the mock-up can inform discussion but cannot establish acceptance by itself. |
The relevant evidence should be connected to the next-step requirement. A record of one property should not be treated as proof of every property, and a visual review should not replace a required measurement or test without a project-specific reason.
Use a three-part decision
A practical way to record the judgment is to use three outcomes:
-
The mock-up supports the next step.
The next-step question is defined, the mock-up provides evidence relevant to it, and any remaining gaps do not affect that particular step. -
The mock-up does not yet support the next step.
A relevant requirement is not met, or evidence needed for the next step is missing. The missing item should be identified before the project moves forward. -
The decision cannot yet be made.
The requirement, test result, or acceptance basis is unavailable. This is different from a failed result: it means there is not enough evidence to decide either way.
The appropriate follow-up may be further prototyping, lab testing, or validation testing, depending on the unresolved question. The purpose is not to add activity for its own sake, but to obtain the evidence required for the next decision.
What the reader must still confirm
General guidance cannot establish the status of a particular mock-up. For a specific project, the reader must confirm:
- the exact next step and the question it must answer;
- whether an applicable quality control plan exists;
- which product tolerances, testing parameters, and acceptance criteria are actually specified;
- what the mock-up represents and which requirements it was made to examine;
- what testing or validation has been completed, under what conditions, and with what results;
- whether changes since the mock-up was made affect the evidence;
- which unresolved issues must be closed before the next step can begin.
The cited ASQ guidance provides decision points, not a universal pass threshold. A mock-up supports the next step only to the extent that its evidence is connected to a defined requirement. When that connection cannot be shown, the appropriate conclusion is either “not yet supported” or “cannot yet be decided,” followed by a clear statement of the evidence still needed.