Taking your product from the prototype development stage to market requires careful consideration of lead times and price quotes for manufacturing. Prototyping allows companies to test designs quickly and efficiently before committing to costly mass production. However, several factors can affect the lead times and price quotes when working with a prototyping company.
1 Prototyping Company’s Experience
The experience of the prototyping company you work with can affect your product’s lead times and quoted prices. An experienced manufacturer has likely encountered a wide range of design challenges and has developed solutions to overcome them. Therefore, they can anticipate potential issues and work proactively to address them, which can help reduce lead times and costs.
2 Information & Communication
The information you communicate to the manufacturer is essential in determining the lead time and price quote for your product. Providing too little or incorrect information can add to the lead time if back-and-forth communication is necessary to gather all the data needed. Conversely, providing too much of the wrong type of information can result in wasted time filtering through all the data to find the components necessary to start your project. Therefore, providing clear and concise information that includes all the specifications and requirements for your product is crucial.
Effective communication is also crucial when working with a prototyping company. You should be able to contact the manufacturer anytime with questions or concerns about your product.
In addition, the manufacturer should provide regular updates on the progress of your project and be transparent about any issues that arise during the development process. Establishing a good rapport with the manufacturer helps ensure your product is developed on schedule and meets your expectations.
3 Engineering & Services
The engineering process involved in prototype development and manufacturing is grounded in the same concepts with vastly different applications and nuances. Even your design team’s most meticulously engineered part could require additional services once it reaches the manufacturer. These could be necessary to accommodate properties like shrink, draft, and other unforeseeable elements. Therefore, it’s vital to have an experienced design team that can anticipate potential issues and works with the manufacturer to resolve them.
Each additional service that your product requires can increase the lead time and increase the price as well. For example, if your product needs surface finishing, the quoted price and the lead time can increase.
4 Testing
Quality is essential for prototype development, and reputable manufacturers always test any products they develop for their customers before they ship. However, the nature of the testing can vary, with more complex testing taking more time. This, in turn, can increase the lead times you experience and the price you pay. Conversely, a component that requires only minimal testing will have shorter lead times and a lower price quote in comparison.
5 Design Complexity
A complex design will likely involve a longer lead time and a higher price quote when compared to a simpler component. In addition, if your product is comprised of several different materials that each require a particular process to meet the design parameters, this also increases its complexity. Therefore, it’s important to simplify your design where possible while still meeting your product requirements.
6 Materials
The choice of materials used in your product, and the amount, can significantly affect its price and the time it takes to manufacture it. For example, some materials could cost more because of their unique physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. On the other hand, some materials require build processes that are quicker or take longer. Therefore, choosing the appropriate material for your product based on its intended use and other design considerations is essential.
7 Scalability
Finally, it’s important to choose a prototyping company that can scale its services to meet your needs as your product evolves. For example, suppose your product requires additional testing or manufacturing processes, the manufacturer should be able to accommodate these changes without significantly impacting the lead time or price quote for your product.
Conclusion
Working with a prototyping company can accelerate product development while reducing costs. However, several factors can influence your product’s lead times and price quotes, including the prototyping company’s experience and scalability, the information you communicate, the communication between you and the prototyping company, the engineering process, additional services required, testing requirements, design complexity, and the choice of materials.
It’s essential to choose a reliable and experienced prototyping company that communicates effectively, maintains best practices in testing, and can scale its services to meet your evolving needs. With the right partner, like Hopefellows, you can develop high-quality prototypes that meet your requirements and help you bring your product to market quickly and efficiently.