Product Design, Engineering, & Development Services

Idea Generation Stage

Idea generation is the systematic and continuous search for new products or improvements to existing products. Because the ultimate goal of every product is to solve a real-world problem, identifying that market need is the first step to idea generation. This step can include surveys, conversations with prospective customers, and other user research.

CONCEPT STAGE: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

Once an idea has been generated, a client may send in the concept sketch of their product. This is returned into a 3D model to show the full design and give a better idea of the scope of the project. From this, a preliminary manufacturing quote can be determined.

Part of the consultation process involves planning the eventual manufacturing of the product. Steps include identifying critical materials needed, estimating the cost of the materials, and identifying possible manufacturing methods. Once the plan is complete, the design is reviewed with the client.

Technical Feasibility Stage

Once the scope of the project has been determined, it is important to consider the variables that could affect the eventual manufacturing of the product. Any new ideas or modifications needed are incorporated into the final design, and a detailed manufacturing drawing is created. Any industry specifications and safety issues are identified to make sure the product is compliant.
Cost is also an important factor to consider in any project. The price of production needs to be adjusted based on forecasted units sold per year. Forecasts can be obtained by sending the final manufacturing drawing to contract manufacturers to get accurate quotes on the product. If the forecasts are not high enough, certain design elements or complexities can be adjusted. Once the product has been approved, the manufacturing process and production schedule can be developed.

Prototype Development Stage

The first step in development is creating a functional prototype. This will give the final estimate of the total cost and labor needed to develop the product. Based on the feedback from the prototype, the final drawings and bill of materials can be released to the client.

Developmental & Testing Stage

To begin development, the production quantity manufacturing process must be established. This differs from the prototype manufacturing process as it is on a much larger scale, and so potential issues need to be ironed out as much as possible to ensure a smooth assembly process. Final drawings and bills of materials are also released based on feedback from the prototype stage.

Finally, a test run of the product assembly is recommended to get ahead of any issues. QA tests help establish reliability and proof of importance. Once the production schedule is finalized, instructional material and reference guides are developed for all parties. Product assembly guides and drawings are used for the workers, sales drawings are used for representatives when selling the product, and any customer assembly guides are created once the product is in the customer’s possession.