If you sell products you must always bear in mind that when you are designing products for mass production, for instance with an industrial design company, you have to greatly consider how manufacturable the products are and how cost-effective they will be when going into mass production.
The reality that most industrial design companies in California face is that they cannot simply create a CAD file and ask a plastic modeler to produce a tool for mass production. If only it was that easy! Many companies offering industrial design services recommend that the CAD file of the product has to be designed using equal wall thickness, undercuts also must be prevented, and draft angles have to be added to specific surfaces to prevent the product from getting caught in the mold.
If the industrial design company ignores any or any other items, the part could be very costly to make, impossible to create or look terrible when it is produced.
Creating a new product is a pretty big deal and is an enormous part of many various businesses. To sum things up, a new product can result in new revenue opportunities, but there is also tons of work that has to go into the product design process. If you have a new product idea and you are racking your brain to try and work out what the necessary steps are, it is important to understand what product engineering is and how it all ties into mass manufacturing.
What Is Product Design For Mass Production?
As any industrial design company will tell you, unless you have a product that is a handmade item that you only plan to make one or maybe two times, you are probably going to hire a manufacturer to make the product for you.
In a nutshell, mass manufacturing, whether it is through an assembly line or more complex production systems, is the most convenient method to make a product affordable, as well as ensuring you have sufficient products when demand is high to make sure customers are always happy.
Stage One: Concept
Before a great product is produced, first comes the even greater idea. Maybe you want to create a pen that is ergonomic and comfortable for left-handed users. Or maybe you have a concept for a new toy or have an idea for an improvement in modern technology.
In any case, whatever your vision is, you can’t go very far without some type of drawing or description to show others in your team how it works.
This when a product design service is very handy since they can use your ideas and their experiences to help you find out the brass tacks of your idea, and can make sketches or even renders based on it.
If you have a very sophisticated idea, and you don’t know where to start, you could need a design engineering service to help you get things off the ground. Engineers can assist you in troubleshooting a product that isn’t working correctly, enhance the design that you have, and provide general suggestions to help you make the product more user-friendly.
Whatever you select, the resulting documentation is your concept design, which you will require for the next phase in the manufacturing process.
Stage Two: CAD Design
After the first concept phase has been carried out, the next step is to make a manufacturer-ready design. At this stage, every single bolt, screw, and wire has to be accounted for within the CAD design. Also, instructions for each part have to be included, and details on exactly what materials are also required.
Finding a good industrial engineer is important for this phase so that you can send your documents to the manufacturer with assurance, knowing they can understand what it is you want to be produced.
Stage Three: Prototype
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how delightfully detailed a CAD is, you must have a working prototype as well to help explain to the manufacturer what it should look after it is completed. You don’t necessarily have to create the prototype with expensive materials either, but it must be as finished as possible so they can understand how it works.
For instance, if it is a clothing item, how should the pockets and zippers function? What type of decorations does it have? If it’s a toy, does it have any moving parts, and if it does, how do they move?
A prototype is a very good way of avoiding any confusion the CAD designs show and provide the manufacturer some assurance that what they have produced is something that you actually want.
Stage Four: Test
The last stage before production is the testing phase. Even though modern CAD software has made it possible that minimal testing is required. CAD software can measure durability in many situations, from extreme weather to falls of great heights.
Testing through CAD software is so sufficient that you may not need to go through a series of testing phases to confirm a product’s durability. Despite the fact that CAD software is very advanced, it is still required to confirm the results with at least one cycle of testing first.
Stage Five: Production
Finally, you have reached the last stage of production and that is finding a manufacturer to help you make the product. This is a very crucial stage since, ultimately, the most momentous part of your investment is confined to manufacturing. Until this moment, every step you have gone through is to make certain that this phase of the production process goes without a hitch as much as possible.
Prior to sending the data, you have collected for product creation to a manufacturer, you have to choose an appropriate one. Do not take for granted the fact that when you are looking for a manufacturer, it will probably be the company you are going to be working with for many years to come if the product launch goes to plan.
So, try to be as selective about who manufactures your product, just as you are when you choose your new husband or wife!