Payment Milestones for Robot Projects
A workable default
| Milestone | Share | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Order and design freeze | 20-30% | Signed drawings and long-lead order placed |
| Build completion | 20-30% | Machine assembled, ready for FAT |
| FAT passed | 20-30% | Protocol signed, defects closed |
| SAT passed | 10-20% | Accepted at the plant |
| Retention | 5-10% | Released after 30-90 days of stable running |
Why the retention line matters
Retention aligns the last invoices with the period when problems surface. It should be released automatically on the agreed date unless a documented defect is outstanding — a mechanism both sides can predict.
Tie every payment to evidence
Each milestone should name the document that proves it: the signed protocol, the photo, the test report. Payments triggered by “progress” are paid late and argued about; payments triggered by evidence are routine.