Product
Design and
Development
New product design and development can take many forms, and no project is the same. So we use a customer driven process proven to be very effective, and we can adjust it to meet your needs.
How do we do this? We focus our engineering skills on your goals. We take the time to assure we understand your product and then we proceed with the development process.
Each step of the way you will know the status of your project. You will know what’s been accomplished, the current work being applied to your project, and the next step in the product design and development process.
Product design and development may seem complicated to you now, but after you read the steps below you should be more confident.
Even though your project is unique the design and development process is generally the same as most other projects. It really comes down to understanding your goals and then applying them to the engineering process.
We’ve broken the product design and development process down to 7 fundamental steps. Please click the links below to learn about each step.
Our Promise to You
By following our product design and development process we will meet your needs. The design of your product will meet your requirements, while minimizing manufacturing costs. Our goal is to save you time and money while taking your project through every phase of the process.
Step 1
Product Design Information
The cornerstone of product design and development is the information you provide about your product.
The information you provide defines the performance you want. That is, you describe the performance requirements, and we’ll try to bring it to reality.
So in this phase you simply describe what you want and how you want it to perform.
Step 2
Develop Solid Model
Development of the solid model is the process of creating a 3D computer based product design. It resides on our computers. So it’s not a physical model. It’s a digital model.
You will be able to see it on your computer, laptop, tablet or phone.
You will also be able to accept the design or make changes.
So this is a critical step in the product design and development process.
Step 3
Product Review
This is where you take charge of the product design and development process.
You can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to examine the solid model as a 3D PDF. You will be able to rotate the model on your screen and zoom into critical areas for your inspection.
This gives you the ability to approve the model or make changes as we proceed through the product design and development process.
If you approve the model the project will advance to Step 4. If you make changes it will move back to Step 2.
Step 4
Prototyping and Testing
Physical prototyping is an essential step in the product design and development process.
Design and performance requirements drive prototype methods and test procedures.
So as your product is designed we develop the requirements for the prototype and the testing procedures.
We may also need to modify the design if the prototype fails our tests. If this happens we can use the data developed from the test to improve the performance of the product.
Prototyping and Testing
Step 5
Mechanical Drawing Construction
At this stage in the product design and development process the design is complete.
The next step is to create mechanical drawings so that we can request quotes from vendors.
Mechanical Drawings are what keeps the components in check. The are the legally binding documents that define what vendors are to produce.
So the mechanical drawings are the binding definition of your design, and vendors have to abide by this definition when they produce your product. Most notably, they need to produce parts and assemblies that meet the specification in the mechanical drawings.
Once the drawings complete they’re used for production tooling quotes, and manufacturing specifications.
Step 6
Production Tooling
We’re nearing the end of the product design and development of your project. Mechanical Drawings are used to request quotes from vendors, which is just one reason drawings are so important.
When tooling is qualified it is put to the test. Components made from the tooling needs to match the specifications in the mechanical drawings. If they don’t the tooling is rejected and needs to be fixed or remade.
Once tooling passes the qualifying inspection it’s ready for the Production Pilot Run.
Another component of the production tooling process is we request quotes from multiple vendors to promote competition, and as a result costs are minimized.
Step 7
Production Pilot Run
The product design and development process is coming to a close. The first parts and assemblies are inspected and approved for compliance to drawing specifications. Tooling is approved based on a First Article Inspection.
Dreams Made into Reality
Our goal is to save you time and money throughout your experience.
Only takes a few seconds!
Helpful Links
