diff --git a/app/globals.css b/app/globals.css
index 3e4f107..0c39c86 100644
--- a/app/globals.css
+++ b/app/globals.css
@@ -1063,6 +1063,103 @@ label,
   border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--info) 28%, transparent);
 }
 
+
+.operator-priority-card {
+  padding: clamp(1rem, 2vw, 1.35rem);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 36%, var(--border));
+  border-radius: var(--radius-xl);
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent-soft) 58%, var(--surface)), var(--surface));
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-md);
+}
+
+.operator-priority-card .eyebrow {
+  color: var(--accent-strong);
+}
+
+.support-section {
+  opacity: 0.88;
+}
+
+.support-section .panel,
+.support-section.panel,
+.support-section .subpanel,
+.support-section.page-context-card {
+  box-shadow: none;
+}
+
+.support-section .stat-card strong {
+  font-size: clamp(1.25rem, 2vw, 1.6rem);
+}
+
+.shell-nav-admin {
+  opacity: 0.78;
+}
+
+.shell-nav-admin .shell-nav-section-label::after {
+  content: ' / setup';
+  font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+  text-transform: none;
+}
+
+.shell-nav-link.is-admin-link {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  background: transparent;
+  border-color: transparent;
+}
+
+.shell-nav-link.is-admin-link.is-active {
+  color: var(--ink-soft);
+  background: var(--surface-soft);
+  border-color: var(--border);
+  box-shadow: none;
+}
+
+.badge,
+.summary-pill {
+  cursor: default;
+}
+
+a.summary-pill,
+button.summary-pill,
+.panel-link,
+.inline-link,
+.button-primary,
+.button-secondary,
+.button-ghost,
+.shell-nav-link {
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+a.summary-pill {
+  transition:
+    border-color 140ms ease,
+    background-color 140ms ease,
+    box-shadow 140ms ease;
+}
+
+a.summary-pill:hover,
+a.summary-pill:focus-visible {
+  border-color: var(--border-strong);
+  background: var(--surface);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
+}
+
+.order-card:hover,
+.line-entry-card:hover,
+.timeline-card:hover {
+  border-color: var(--border);
+}
+
+.order-card:has(a:hover),
+.order-card:has(a:focus-visible),
+.line-entry-card:has(button:hover),
+.line-entry-card:has(button:focus-visible),
+.timeline-card:has(a:hover),
+.timeline-card:has(a:focus-visible) {
+  border-color: var(--border-strong);
+}
+
 .button-primary {
   background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--accent), var(--accent-strong));
   color: white;
diff --git a/app/handoff/page.tsx b/app/handoff/page.tsx
index 58b9dbe..01bfe88 100644
--- a/app/handoff/page.tsx
+++ b/app/handoff/page.tsx
@@ -64,7 +64,23 @@ export default async function HandoffPage({
       {params?.saved ? <p className="inline-success"><CheckIcon className="button-icon" />{t('handoff.savedUpdate', { item: params.saved })}</p> : null}
       {params?.error ? <p className="inline-warning">{params.error}</p> : null}
 
-      <section className="grid-two">
+      <section className="operator-priority-card page-stack">
+        <div className="table-header-row">
+          <div>
+            <p className="eyebrow">Primary action</p>
+            <h2>Release ready work and record handoff notes</h2>
+            <p className="helper-text">Check pickup, packing, and assignment watches first. Use WIP and shift notes when work must cross a shift.</p>
+          </div>
+          <HandoffIcon className="callout-icon" />
+        </div>
+        <div className="inline-action-row action-row-start">
+          <a href="#handoff-watch" className="button-primary compact-button"><HandoffIcon className="button-icon" />Review release watches</a>
+          <a href="#handoff-forms" className="button-secondary compact-button"><CheckIcon className="button-icon" />Record WIP / shift note</a>
+          <Link href="/production" className="button-ghost compact-button"><ProductionIcon className="button-icon" />Production board</Link>
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
+      <section className="grid-two support-section">
         <article className="panel page-stack">
           <div className="table-header-row">
             <div>
@@ -123,7 +139,7 @@ export default async function HandoffPage({
         </article>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="grid-two">
+      <section className="grid-two" id="handoff-watch">
         <article className="panel page-stack">
           <div className="table-header-row">
             <div>
@@ -232,7 +248,7 @@ export default async function HandoffPage({
         </article>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="grid-two">
+      <section className="grid-two" id="handoff-forms">
         <form action={addWipEntryAction} className="panel form-grid compact-form page-stack">
           <div>
             <p className="eyebrow">{t('handoff.addWip')}</p>
diff --git a/app/orders/page.tsx b/app/orders/page.tsx
index 309f8b3..18180e0 100644
--- a/app/orders/page.tsx
+++ b/app/orders/page.tsx
@@ -154,7 +154,23 @@ export default async function OrdersPage({
         </p>
       ) : null}
 
-      <section className="panel page-stack">
+      <section className="operator-priority-card page-stack">
+        <div className="table-header-row">
+          <div>
+            <p className="eyebrow">Primary action</p>
+            <h2>Create or review today&apos;s orders</h2>
+            <p className="helper-text">Order capture is the first-deploy priority. Confirm products when useful, but freeform lines can keep work moving.</p>
+          </div>
+          <OrdersIcon className="callout-icon" />
+        </div>
+        <div className="inline-action-row action-row-start">
+          <Link href="/orders/new" className="button-primary compact-button"><OrdersIcon className="button-icon" />Create order</Link>
+          <Link href="/customers" className="button-secondary compact-button">Confirm customers</Link>
+          <Link href="/admin/setup?section=products#products" className="button-ghost compact-button">Confirm products</Link>
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
+      <section className="panel page-stack support-section">
         <div className="table-header-row">
           <div>
             <strong>{t('orders.recurringDemand')}</strong>
diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index fa3ed3b..e10246d 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -149,27 +149,28 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="panel page-stack">
+      <section className="operator-priority-card page-stack">
         <div className="table-header-row">
           <div>
-            <h2>First deploy workflow</h2>
-            <p className="helper-text">For a real first test, start with customers and order capture, then use production and handoff as the daily operating loop.</p>
+            <p className="eyebrow">Today&apos;s priority</p>
+            <h2>Start the daily loop</h2>
+            <p className="helper-text">Create or confirm orders first. Production and handoff become useful once real orders exist.</p>
           </div>
           <span className="summary-pill">MWP path</span>
         </div>
-        <div className="inline-action-row">
-          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.customers} className="button-secondary compact-button">Confirm customers</Link>
-          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.orders} className="button-primary compact-button">Create orders</Link>
-          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.production} className="button-secondary compact-button">Track production</Link>
-          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.handoff} className="button-secondary compact-button">Record handoff</Link>
-          <Link href={skossCoreRoutes.adminSetup} className="button-secondary compact-button">Basic setup</Link>
+        <div className="inline-action-row action-row-start">
+          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.orders} className="button-primary compact-button"><OrdersIcon className="button-icon" />Create order</Link>
+          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.production} className="button-secondary compact-button"><ProductionIcon className="button-icon" />Track production</Link>
+          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.handoff} className="button-secondary compact-button"><HandoffIcon className="button-icon" />Record handoff</Link>
+          <Link href={skossinaRoutes.customers} className="button-ghost compact-button"><CustomersIcon className="button-icon" />Customers</Link>
+          <Link href={skossCoreRoutes.adminSetup} className="button-ghost compact-button"><SetupIcon className="button-icon" />Basic setup</Link>
         </div>
         {gatewayState.demoModeActive ? (
           <p className="inline-warning">This workspace is marked as demo data. Do not treat records here as live operational data.</p>
         ) : null}
       </section>
 
-      <section className="grid-two">
+      <section className="grid-two support-section">
         <article className="panel page-stack">
           <div className="table-header-row">
             <div>
@@ -207,14 +208,16 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
         </article>
       </section>
 
-      <ActivityFeed
+      <div className="support-section">
+        <ActivityFeed
         title={t('activity.homeTitle')}
         description={t('activity.homeHelp')}
         emptyLabel={t('activity.empty')}
         items={summary.recentActivities}
       />
+      </div>
 
-      <section className="page-context-card">
+      <section className="page-context-card support-section">
         <SparklesIcon className="callout-icon" />
         <div>
           <strong>{t('home.roleFocusTitle')}</strong>
@@ -229,7 +232,7 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="grid-cards">
+      <section className="grid-cards support-section">
         {orderedQuickLinks.map((link, index) => {
           const Icon = link.icon;
           const isRecommended = homeWorkspace === 'home' ? index === 0 : link.href === `/${recommendedWorkspace}`;
diff --git a/app/production/page.tsx b/app/production/page.tsx
index a426f2a..2fbf831 100644
--- a/app/production/page.tsx
+++ b/app/production/page.tsx
@@ -69,7 +69,24 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      {view.boards.map((board) => {
+      <section className="operator-priority-card page-stack">
+        <div className="table-header-row">
+          <div>
+            <p className="eyebrow">Primary action</p>
+            <h2>Update pending production work</h2>
+            <p className="helper-text">Use the line update cards on each board to mark what is done. Create orders only when demand is missing.</p>
+          </div>
+          <ProductionIcon className="callout-icon" />
+        </div>
+        <div className="inline-action-row action-row-start">
+          <a href="#production-work" className="button-primary compact-button"><CheckIcon className="button-icon" />Update production</a>
+          <Link href="/orders/new" className="button-secondary compact-button"><OrdersIcon className="button-icon" />Create order</Link>
+          <Link href="/handoff" className="button-ghost compact-button"><HandoffIcon className="button-icon" />Record WIP / handoff</Link>
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
+      <div id="production-work" className="page-stack">
+        {view.boards.map((board) => {
         const sectionIdBase = board.productionDate;
 
         return (
@@ -130,7 +147,7 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
             ) : null}
 
             <div
-              className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid"
+              className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid support-section"
               id={`${sectionIdBase}-demand`}
             >
               <div className="stat-card">
@@ -163,7 +180,7 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
               </div>
             </div>
 
-            <div className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid">
+            <div className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid support-section">
               <div className="stat-card">
                 <span className="stat-label">
                   {t('production.fulfillmentSummary.standard')}
@@ -240,7 +257,7 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
               ))}
             </div>
 
-            <div className="grid-two" id={`${sectionIdBase}-fulfillment`}>
+            <div className="grid-two support-section" id={`${sectionIdBase}-fulfillment`}>
               <article className="subpanel page-stack">
                 <div className="table-header-row">
                   <div>
@@ -307,7 +324,7 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
               </article>
             </div>
 
-            <div className="grid-two">
+            <div className="grid-two support-section">
               <article className="subpanel page-stack">
                 <div className="table-header-row">
                   <div>
@@ -361,7 +378,7 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
               </article>
             </div>
 
-            <div className="grid-two" id={`${sectionIdBase}-handoff`}>
+            <div className="grid-two support-section" id={`${sectionIdBase}-handoff`}>
               <article className="subpanel page-stack">
                 <div className="table-header-row">
                   <div>
@@ -565,7 +582,8 @@ export default async function ProductionPage() {
             </article>
           </section>
         );
-      })}
+        })}
+      </div>
 
       {!view.boards.length ? (
         <section className="page-context-card">
diff --git a/app/timeline/page.tsx b/app/timeline/page.tsx
index 363a4c8..9c0df6b 100644
--- a/app/timeline/page.tsx
+++ b/app/timeline/page.tsx
@@ -175,15 +175,23 @@ export default async function TimelinePage() {
         </Link>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="page-context-card">
-        <TimelineIcon className="callout-icon" />
-        <div>
-          <strong>{t('timeline.focusDateTitle', { date: formatDateLabel(view.focusDate, locale) })}</strong>
-          <p className="helper-text no-margin">{t('timeline.focusDateBody')}</p>
+      <section className="operator-priority-card page-stack">
+        <div className="table-header-row">
+          <div>
+            <p className="eyebrow">Support view</p>
+            <h2>{t('timeline.focusDateTitle', { date: formatDateLabel(view.focusDate, locale) })}</h2>
+            <p className="helper-text">Use timeline to spot timing risk. Daily work still happens in orders, production, and handoff.</p>
+          </div>
+          <TimelineIcon className="callout-icon" />
+        </div>
+        <div className="inline-action-row action-row-start">
+          <Link href="/orders" className="button-primary compact-button"><OrdersIcon className="button-icon" />Open orders</Link>
+          <Link href="/production" className="button-secondary compact-button">Production board</Link>
+          <Link href="/handoff" className="button-ghost compact-button">Handoff</Link>
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      <section className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid">
+      <section className="stats-grid compact-stats-grid support-section">
         <div className="stat-card stat-card-warn">
           <span className="stat-label">{t('timeline.summary.overdue')}</span>
           <strong>{view.summary.overdue}</strong>
@@ -234,7 +242,7 @@ export default async function TimelinePage() {
           </div>
         </article>
 
-        <div className="page-stack">
+        <div className="page-stack support-section">
           <article className="panel page-stack">
             <div className="table-header-row">
               <div>
diff --git a/components/primary-nav.tsx b/components/primary-nav.tsx
index 591f8c8..80f6c8e 100644
--- a/components/primary-nav.tsx
+++ b/components/primary-nav.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function NavLink({
   return (
     <Link
       href={href}
-      className={`shell-nav-link ${compact ? 'is-compact' : ''} ${active ? 'is-active' : ''}`}
+      className={`shell-nav-link ${compact ? 'is-compact is-admin-link' : ''} ${active ? 'is-active' : ''}`}
       aria-current={active ? 'page' : undefined}
     >
       {children}
diff --git a/docs/mwp-readiness-audit.md b/docs/mwp-readiness-audit.md
index 3edff96..c7d8123 100644
--- a/docs/mwp-readiness-audit.md
+++ b/docs/mwp-readiness-audit.md
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ Do not include these in the first deploy readiness scope:
 - Added production entry links and clearer empty guidance for production boards with no visible orders.
 - Added handoff entry links and empty-list guidance for WIP, packing, assignment, pickup, and focus-day order watches.
 
+## Product/menu benchmark note
+
+The current product setup path is intentionally MWP-only. It is meant to confirm basic sellable product names, default units, optional category labels, and active/inactive state so real orders can be captured. It should not be judged as a full POS/menu manager yet.
+
+Loyverse, Uber Eats, and DiDi Food are useful later benchmarks for product/menu UX patterns such as richer descriptions, prices, images, modifiers, variants, availability, menu grouping, and channel-specific presentation. Those remain post-MWP/beta work for SKOSS. The first deploy should preserve the current principle: product setup helps order capture, but incomplete catalog data must not block daily kitchen work.
+
 ## Recommended next PR
 
 Run a first-deploy rehearsal against a fresh non-demo instance: bootstrap, create admin, confirm products/customers, create orders, update production, record WIP, record handoff, and verify browser-print output. Keep the rehearsal focused on operational confidence before adding richer catalog, procurement, inventory, or deployment automation.