The Most Common & Important Steps Involved in Product Development

The Most Common & Important Steps Involved in Product Development

Product development is all about materializing a new product from just a mere concept. Whether it is a medical device product, a product with electronics, electromechanical product, sports product, a product with embedded software or any other kind of a unique product, there are a number of steps involved in order to realize it. Here are some of the steps that entail in product development:

Step 1: Research

Performing an extensive market research is where the product development begins. A market research helps identify the prospect of the new products. Is the conceived product unique? How ergonomic the product should be? Will the product be helpful to the potential customers? Are there any alternatives for the conceived product yet? Answers to these and many other questions shape the success of the new product, and in order to get the answers, performing research is necessary.

Step 2: Product Design

A conceived idea is actually elucidated during the product design stage. In fact, all the detailed drawings, from concept to envisioned final product, are drawn during the product design stage. Product design is one very tough step of product development.

A conceived product can be simple or complex in nature. If it is a simple product with few parts or components, the product design process will be a single step. On the other hand, if it is a complex product with numerous parts or components, product design process will be broken down into two sub-steps: Preliminary Product Design and Final Product Design.

  • Preliminary Product Design: When a product consists more parts or components, like an electromechanical power unit, which has over hundreds of parts and components, then the preliminary product design step is useful. Preliminary product design is all about the appearance and function of the conceived product, and less about the product’s manufacturability. Once preliminary product designs are made, they become the frameworks for the final product design.
  • Final Product Design: Final product design is all about product manufacturability. In simpler words, it is about creating product designs in such a way that the said products are easy to fabricate or manufacture. The final product design specifies everything required to dictate production or mass manufacturing. It considers everything on a part level. The result of final product design is detailed drawings, 3D image and rendering files, a complete bill of materials, and details to source and assemble.

Step 3: Product Design Analyses / Feasibility Analyses

After realizing the final product design, detailed analyses are carried out on the design prior to product prototyping and prototype testing. These analyses verify the feasibility of the product, as well as its performance, like strength, weight, dimension, etc., prior to developing a physical prototype. This important step lowers the cost and performance risks related to prototype development and prototype testing.

Step 4: Product Prototype Development

Once a definitive product design is ready, alpha and beta product prototypes are made. This is the step where the actual, physical form of a conceived product takes shape and comes into being. Product prototypes are made using suitable plastic product manufacturing techniques. If it is a product with electronics, then breadboards or generic electronic kits, like Arduino kits, are used to make prototypes. 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques can also be utilized for product prototype development.

Step 5: Prototype Testing

Before moving the product into production, exhaustive testing of the definitive prototype is carried out to make sure that it functions and performs as expected. The prototype is used in all the possible ways it is intended to be used. The general public and potential customers are also allowed to use the prototype; this way, valuable feedbacks from them are taken and implemented before the product is sent for mass manufacturing.

Step 6: Hazard Analysis

The hazard analysis is performed throughout the product development process. It is, however, finalized before the product is sent for production. The purpose of hazard analysis is to identify any possible safety issues that may surface by the product, in the future. If possible, the safety issues will be addressed by the change in the product design. If not, it will be addressed by the accompanying product manual and safety warning labels.

Step 7: Mass Manufacture & Release

The final step of the product development is placing the product into production. If the capital is not the constraint, then own production facility can be set up. If it is the constraint, then outsourcing the production is the sensible and economical way.

Once the product starts to roll out in larger quantities, it can be taken to the market, into the hands of potential customers.

Product development is indeed a time-consuming, mentally-challenging, and exhausting task. For individual inventors, it is next to impossible to realize their dream products on their own. Fortunately, there are product development companies, like GID Development Corporation, that can help inventors with product development.

GID Development Corporation is a leading product development company in the US. Based in California, it offers swift, agile, economical, and top-quality product design, product prototyping, and product development services to inventors throughout the United States and across the globe.

With their vast experience, professionals at GID Development Corporation can help develop large, complex products, products with embedded software, sports products, products with electronics, electromechanical products, and other unique products. No product development project is too big or too small for them; these professionals at GID Development Corporation will “GET IT DONE!”

Have any product development-related questions or queries? Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST, for a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference. He will answer various questions regarding new product development.

Rapid Product Designing & Rapid Prototyping – Advantages

Rapid Product Designing & Rapid Prototyping – Advantages

New product design and product development, both have come a long way today. Traditionally, product designs were hand drawn. Now, Rapid Product Designing are creating detailed, clear product designs using special-purpose computer applications, like Dassault Systèmes’ 3D EXPERIENCE 2016, SOLIDWORKS, and 3DVIA among many others.

For product development, specifically the product prototype development, engineers nowadays are utilizing revolutionary additive manufacturing (popularly known as 3D printing) processes, which include selective laser melting, fused filament fabrication, direct metal laser sintering, and stereolithography to name a few.

These modern rapid product designing and rapid product prototyping techniques are geared toward the swift, precise, and effortless development of new products. More importantly, with these state-of-the-art techniques, it is possible to minimize the cost of new product development! Let us look at some of the advantages that these computer-assisted 3D product designing and 3D printing techniques offer.

  1. These contemporary techniques radically minimize the time of turning a product concept into reality. Simple product concepts can be brought to life in a matter of days, and complex product concepts in a matter of a few months. Therefore, inventors can quickly realize their dreams of swiftly getting groundbreaking products into the market and selling them to make profits.
  2. These techniques help save money. Creating product designs using computer applications means getting definitive designs with a minimum number of attempts; hence, it avoids the redundant costs of creating multiple product designs. 3D printing, on the other hand, eliminates the need for plastic product manufacturing tools or other molding tools needed for building product prototypes. This elimination of tools substantially saves money for the inventors.
  3. The modern techniques help mitigate product redesigning risks. Since the product designs are created virtually on the computer, they are, in most instances, ideal in every manner. Even if they are not, or if any changes are required, the product designers can quickly and effortlessly modify or change the product designs. These new product designs are then efficiently and economically 3D printed, saving time, money, and more importantly, the efforts of doing everything from scratch for the inventors.
  4. The techniques facilitate in the creation of the definitive product. Because 3D product designing is carried out virtually, using special computer applications, the chances of leaving out any product construction requirements are almost next to nothing. In the virtual world, the product designers and product developers can test almost every aspect of the conceived product. This way, they can add, remove, and experiment with the various features of the imagined product without actually creating any mockup or prototype!
  5. These techniques allow quick creation of product prototypes. Once the product designs are ready, they will be fed to a 3D printer (it’s a kind of an industrial robot). The 3D printer is then configured according to the required specifications. Once the 3D printer is configured, it will then extrude material into the desired shapes. The entire process, from feeding the product design into the 3D printer to the extrusion of the material into the desired shapes, is substantially swifter than injection molding techniques.
  6. These breakthrough techniques enable the creation of custom shapes. The 3D printer extrudes the material into desired shapes or geometries based on the instructions received from a computer. In simpler words, a 3D printer prints a material, instead of ink, based on the design it is provided. Ergo, it is possible to create custom, intriguing shapes effortlessly. This advantage of these techniques is very beneficial when it comes to medical device product development as well as electromechanical product development.
  7. These techniques make it possible to develop product prototypes using any material. Not only polymer and its variants, but 3D printers are capable of accepting and printing materials like rubber, ceramic, edible materials, and almost any metal alloy!

These were just some of the many advantages that rapid product designing and rapid product prototyping techniques offer. They are just ideal for new product design and new product development, especially product prototype development.

If you are an inventor and want to realize your product idea with these revolutionary product design and product development techniques, then partner with GID Development Corporation. A leading product design company in California, USA, GID Development Corporation provides rapid product design, rapid prototyping, rapid product development and other new product fulfillment services. They even have the ability to develop CNC-machined prototypes using different plastics and metals. This ability of GID Development Corporation comes in very handy, especially when the raw materials for rapid prototyping processes are not suitable or durable enough for the conceived product.

Whether you have a revolutionary idea for a medical device product, sports product, electromechanical product, a product with embedded software, product with electronics, or any unique product, the product development company in California, GID Development Corporation will absolutely “GET IT DONE!”

Have any queries regarding rapid product prototyping or 3D printing? Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST, for a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference. He will answer to various questions regarding product design, product prototyping, and product development. You can like our Facebook page well.

How to Take Your New Product with Electronics to the Market?

How to Take Your New Product with Electronics to the Market

So you have a novel idea for a new product with electronics? How would you realize your product idea and take it to the market? Well, develop a product prototype, get it bulk-manufactured, and start selling! It sounds very simple, isn’t it?

The reality: nothing is simple or easy about introducing a new product into the market. And, it is even more challenging and arduous when it comes to introducing a complex product, like a new product with electronics, to the market.

Most budding innovators have the false impression that they can take a new product from concept to consumers in a short time, like within a year. That is not true for most products – even untrue for simple products.

Taking a new product with electronics to the market is expensive. Most innovators and startups do not have enough money or risk tolerance to create a definitive product in one step. If they, however, take several small steps, they can get success with their new product. Here is what an innovator or startup should do in order to realize their product and take it to the market.

Validate the Product Concept

In order to prove your product concept, the best thing you can do is create a product prototype. You will need to have a functional prototype of your conceived product. While developing a prototype, ensure to keep the cost of development as low as possible. Since your conceived idea is for a product with electronics, you will need to use breadboards as well as certain electronic modules.

A breadboard helps create an electronic prototype without the need of a specific or definitive PCB (printed circuit board). A breadboard is generic and reusable, so you can create any circuit on it again and again. It is an excellent board for creating and experimenting electronic prototypes.

To create a prototype for a product with electronics, you can also use Arduino. Arduino is a popular electronic development kit, which helps create advanced prototypes for products with electronics. Arduino is a microcontroller-based kit, and the best thing about it is, it is very inexpensive.

Electronic modules are those components that are designed to perform specific functions. For instance, electronic modules may be used to execute functions like video capture, GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi among many others.

While a product prototype is not something that you can sell into the market, it is certainly the “Thing” that helps you prove, your conceived product idea actually works.

Validate that the Product Will Sell

In order to prove that your conceived product can actually be sold in the market, you will need to create a definitive prototype – a close substitute for the final product. This close substitute or definitive prototype needs to be produced in a small quantity so that they can be sent to the market for testing and getting valuable feedback.

Innovators will never know what the customers precisely want. They can assume, but will not know what the potential users actually want. The best way to know what the customers want, however, is with their feedback!

So to create a close substitute or definitive prototype for your product with electronics, you will need to look farther than electronic development kits (breadboards and Arduino). What you will need is actual printed circuit boards, specifically designed for your conceived product. On this PCB, you will need to integrate actual electronic components. This prototype should perform all the functions that are expected in the final product.

Unlike initial prototypes, creating definitive prototypes is challenging. Therefore, partnering with a product prototype development company that has experience with the development of products with electronics is a good idea. Such a product prototype development company has the knowledge in the field of electronics, and will help create definitive product prototypes that can be put on the market for testing and getting feedback.

Now the Profit

In order to make the profit, you need to create a perfect final product or an archetype, bulk manufacture it, and send the bulk-manufactured product to the market to the actual customers. An archetype of a conceived product is created after eliminating defects and improving certain functions based on feedback received on the definitive prototype.

Once the archetype is ready, the next step is to partner with a manufacturer. Since it is a product with electronics, it will need a plastic casing. Therefore, you need to partner with a unique plastic product manufacturer who not only specializes in plastic product manufacturing but also in handling electronics. If the unique plastic product manufacturer has the experience in helping take the bulk-manufactured products with electronics to the market, then it is an added advantage. Else, you will need to find professionals who can help bring your new product to the market.

If you have a unique idea for a new product with electronics and want to realize the product and bring it to the market, then professional help is available! GID Development Corporation, an eminent product design company in California, helps innovators in designing, prototyping, and developing a wide range of products, including products with electronics, electromechanical products, products with imbedded software, sports products, medical device products, and more. Aside from product design, product prototype development, and new product development, GID Development Corporation also specializes in plastic product manufacturing. With its plastic product manufacturing specialization, GID Development Corporation can help bulk manufacture a wide range of products. The professionals at GID Development Corporation also assist innovators to take their new products to the market.

To learn more about GID Development Corporation, a leading product design company in California, visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

You can now have a free 15-minute telephonic conference with one of the professionals at GID Development Corporation. Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Getting a Product Prototype Developed

Getting a Product Prototype Developed

Product prototype development is one very important step. No entrepreneur inventors can successfully bring a new product to the market without having a prototype developed for it first. A product prototype is the first physical form of a conceived product idea. It gives a better perception, whether the product would work or not. A product prototype also helps identify any problems that the product may have; knowing what the potential problems are beforehand will help eliminate those problems and make the final product better.

For entrepreneur inventors, product prototype development can be radically tough. Fortunately for them, they do not have to make prototypes themselves, as there are many product prototype development companies, engineering firms, machine shops, and other specialized places that can create product prototypes swiftly. Here are some steps that entrepreneur inventors should consider when it comes to product prototype development:

Step 1. Create conceptual sketches of the imagined product, and then create exhaustive drawings for the same. To create conceptual sketches, inventors can try the traditional approach – use a pencil/pen and paper. They can also hire someone to draw the sketches. Rough sketches of the conceived product are necessary. Based on these rough sketches, inventors should get detailed drawings of the product drawn on the computer. CAD (computer-aided design) applications can help in this regard. These detailed drawings are what inventors need in order to explain their product concept to the prototype development company.

Step 2. Search and team up with a good product prototype development company that can help create reliable prototypes based on the requirements and detailed drawings. If the conceived product is to be made from plastic, partner with a product prototype company that specializes in plastic product manufacturing. If it is to be made from metal, seek a company that specializes in creating metal prototypes. If the conceived product is to be made from thermoplastic, rubber, ceramic, or other such malleable materials, then approach a prototype development company that specializes in rapid prototyping or 3D printing (additive manufacturing). Rapid prototyping and 3D printing, by the way, are modern processes that facilitate swift product prototype development.

Note: Get the prototype developed of the same material you intend the final product to be made of; that way, you can get the proper understanding and feel of the conceived product.

Step 3. Redevelop the prototype, until it becomes the archetype of the conceived product. No one can have the perfect prototype on the first try. Several prototypes need to be developed in order to get the archetype, based on which mass production can be initiated. There are certain technologies available, like DS 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, which includes SOLIDWORKS, SIMULIA, GEOVIA, CATIA V6, etc., that help create swift and accurate prototypes; yet, at least, few prototypes need to be made. Often, the redevelopment of prototypes arises due to functional or structural changes; however, other factors may also incite the redevelopment of the prototype.

Step 4. Initiate the mass manufacturing based on the archetype or final product prototype. Now that the archetype or the final product prototype is ready, which is perfect in every sense, entrepreneur inventors should proceed with mass production of the conceived product. Partner with a reliable product manufacturer or, if the budget is not the constraint, set up your own manufacturing facility. Once the product starts rolling out in bulk quantity, take it to the market and start selling to the potential customers.

If you need help with product prototype development, then get in touch with GID Development Corporation. A leading product prototype development company in California, GID Development Corporation not only provides prototype development services, but product design, product development, and other product fulfillment services as well. Just head over to https://www.gidcompany.com/ to learn more.

GID Development Corporation always believes in assisting their customers in any way they can; hence, they are currently offering a 15-minute free telephonic conference to answer various product design, product prototyping, and product development-related questions that the entrepreneur inventors may have. All the entrepreneur inventor needs to do is call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST. Checkout our product Steri-Write.

Benefits of Plastic Injection Molding

Benefits of Plastic Injection Molding

Partnering with a plastic product manufacturer is a good idea. Partnering with a plastic product manufacturer who specializes in the plastic injection molding process is even a better idea! Plastic injection molding is a remarkably versatile procedure of manufacturing new products and their parts. Most plastic product manufacturers utilize this procedure because it has multiple benefits over other procedures of plastic molding. Plastic injection molding is not only simpler and reliable, but it is also exceptionally efficient. For new product development, utilizing this procedure is worth considering.

Here are the benefits of using plastic injection molding for manufacturing new products and their parts or components:

Design Flexibility

The injection molding process involves high-pressure injection or thrust of raw material, i.e., plastic, metal, rubber, etc. into a mold. Due to the high pressure, the material is pressed harder into the mold. Because the material is pressed harder, it is possible to add considerable details in the design of a part or product.

The high-pressure injection that this process utilizes also enables the creation of complex and tricky shapes. The other methods would fail or prove inefficient and too expensive to create complex-shaped parts or products. Therefore, compared to all other molding methods, plastic injection molding offers better design flexibility.

Efficiency

Once the precise mold has been designed as per the required specification and the injection molding machine set, the actual molding process is swift in contrast to other molding methods. Owing to its swiftness, more parts or components can be manufactured, in less time. This aspect of plastic injection molding makes it a cost-effective and highly efficient option for manufacturing plastic parts and components.

Strength Enhancement

Plastic injection molding allows the use of different fillers in the mold. These fillers, which could be silica, calcium carbonate, clay, glass, mica, alumina trihydrate, or any other minerals, can increase the stiffness and hardness as well as strength and heat resistance of the plastic parts. Other molding methods would not allow the use of such fillers; hence, when there is a need for strong and durable plastic parts, plastic injection molding offers a viable option.

Allows the Simultaneous Use of Different Plastic Types

One remarkable benefit of using plastic injection molding for making parts and components is the ability to use different thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers concurrently. This is possible through co-injection technology. Using different types of polymers together reduces the material cost. It also helps alter the density, elasticity as well as color, texture, and mechanical properties of the plastic parts.

Automated Manufacturing

The process of plastic injection molding is automated. Most of the plastic injection molding processes are carried out by machines and even robots. This eliminates manual labor involvement, and so, significantly reduces mass manufacturing costs. Automated manufacturing also reduces inaccuracies; hence, the waste is reduced, and the quality products are manufactured.

If you are looking for a reliable Plastic product manufacturer in California, who specializes in plastic injection molding and can help you develop new products, the GID Development Corporation is worth considering. A product design company in California, GID Development Corporation provides exceptional product design, product prototyping, product development, plastic product manufacturing, and other product fulfillment services.

Currently, GID Development Corporation is offering a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference, where an industrial expert will answer to various plastic product manufacturing-related questions. Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Product Design – The Design-To-Cost Aspect

Product Design – The Design-To-Cost Aspect

When it comes to product development, most inventors fail to recognize or overlook the importance of product design. While every phase of the new product development is important, the product design phase is something that requires a little bit more consideration. After all, the outcome of the conceived product predominantly depends upon its product design. Product design also affects the manufacturing costs, and eventually the final price, of the product. For that reason, new product design is one very important stage that every inventor should heed to without fail.

New product design has many aspects, but in this blog, we will shed some light on Design-To-Cost aspect. Design-to-cost or DTC is a methodical approach to designing a product in such a way that the cost of product development and manufacturing is minimum. DTC has many components, but we will list only the main ones and explain how to deal with them during the new product design phase.

Materials

Overuse of material has three severe penalties – increase in material cost, increase in production cost, and increase in ecological footprint. Using the wrong type of material also has the same penalties. For that reason, one has to be very cautious with choosing and using the material. One also needs to be cautious with over-engineering – designing a product to be more complicated than necessary. Over-engineering leads to the overuse of material. Smart product design, computer analysis, and performance tests help choose the right type of material and eliminate the overuse of material, minimizing the overall cost of manufacturing.

Manufacturability

Designing a product by adhering to the principle of “Design for Manufacturability” can drastically reduce the cost of the final product. Design for Manufacturability or DFM in simple terms is designing a product in such a way that it is easy to mass-manufacture. In order to design a product that is easy to manufacture, inventors should involve the manufacturer in the product design phase itself. A product manufacturer’s advice during the product design stage can save drastic design changes as well as money later on.

Labor

For certain products, usually the ones requiring manual assembly, testing, packaging, etc., the cost of labor can be a major overhead. Inventors should not overlook this labor cost. The number of laborers, as well as the labor-time, should be clearly defined and calculated during the product design phase, and the product design should focus to minimize both the number of laborers and labor time required.

Maintenance

Certain products demand regular maintenance, and it costs a lot. A product design company can reduce such a maintenance cost in two ways:

  1. Create a robust product design – the one that demands less maintenance.
  2. Create a maintenance-friendly product design – the one that is easier and faster to maintain.

Quantities

Production quantities have a drastic impact on both the production efficiency and cost. Designing a new product without considering the required quantities might adversely affect the production efficiency, and it also increases the costs. Estimating the product quantities beforehand during the initial research and product design stages can factor towards the reduced final cost of the new product.

Accessories

Most new products have some accessories, like packaging, components, spare parts, user manuals, and so on. All these accessories add costs to the final product’s cost. Inventors should not overlook these accessories and their costs. Some of these accessories directly complement the final product; hence, accessories should be the part of the main product design.

Logistics

If the new product is targeted for the global market, the product’s logistics costs can be significant. The new product’s size, dimension, weight, fragility, storage, and so on could increase the logistics costs. This logistics aspect needs to be considered during the product design phase so that a definitive design and the proper arrangements can be made beforehand.

New product development is challenging, and one of its stages, the new product design, requires considerable consideration. Numerous aspects are involved in new product design, and it is radically tough for inventors to tackle them all on their own. Fortunately for inventors, there are some new product design companies, like GID Development Corporation, that can help address all the product design challenges and assist in launching a new product into the market.

GID Development Corporation is one of the experienced and leading product design companies in California, USA. Utilizing advanced technologies, like Dassault Systèmes’ 3D EXPERIENCE Platform, which includes SIMULIA, SOLIDWORKS, CATIA V6, and other product design and engineering apps, and their in-depth knowledge accumulated over the years, the veterans at GID Development Corporation help inventors with definitive product designs for their conceived products.

Along with new product design, GID Development Corporation also provides a complete product development service, which includes product prototype development, product prototype testing, production tooling development, production setup, manufacturing setup, and everything in between and beyond. Whether it is product design and development of products with imbedded software, products with electronics, medical device products, electromechanical products, generic products, or special-purpose products, GID Development Corporation will definitely “GET IT DONE!”

To learn more about the leading product design company in California, GID Development Corporation, just visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

GID Development Corporation is currently also offering a free telephonic conference to help answer various product design and development-related questions. Any inventor who is interested can just call Jim Grimes, one of the veterans at GID, at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.