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The Conundrum of Investing in Tooling Before a Final Prototype

September 28, 2020

The Conundrum of Investing in Tooling Before a Final Prototype

In most new product development projects for electro-mechanical products, there comes a time when the company (and its investors) need to make a leap of faith when it comes to investing in tooling. They often need a lot of advice and discuss it with us. Let's discuss the conundrum buyers face of doing so before a final prototype is made. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: developing new products, investing in tooling, molds, new product manufacturing, prototyping, tooling

Why Packaging Is Important For Both Protection & Product Differentiation

September 14, 2020

Great Packaging Achieves both Protection and Product Differentiation

  We have worked with many companies that develop their own new product for manufacturing in China or Vietnam. They have spent months (or longer) on product design & development. But they completely overlooked why packaging is important, and merely plan to get to it at the last moment. Oh, but wait... they still want custom printing. That often means a 3 weeks lead time, AFTER a packaging material & type has been confirmed, AFTER the printing supplier has been qualified (a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: new product development, new product manufacturing, packaging, product differentiation, product protection, types of packaging, uses of packaging

From New Product Design to Production: What Is on the Customer’s Plate?

September 9, 2020

From New Product Design to Production: What Is on the Customer's Plate?

Many people contact us with an idea for a new product they want to develop... and nothing else. We usually explain that they are not ready for talking to China-based manufacturers until they have done more 'homework'. Over the weekend, I listened to an episode of the Predictable Design Podcast (The Importance of Defining Project Milestones), which covered the main steps every new company that wants to manufacture a new physical product has to go through. It is a great listen. It inspired … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: developing new products, new product development, new product development process, new product launch, new product manufacturing, npd

Product Reliability Testing | 7 FAQs

July 27, 2020

Product Reliability Testing | FAQs

If you develop, manufacture, or distribute a product that has to perform its intended function for at least a certain duration, you probably need to do product reliability testing. Otherwise, you may have no idea how soon the product will fail and how it will fail, and that might cause you serious issues in the marketplace. Our clients often ask us questions on this topic. Read my responses to the most frequently asked questions. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: HALT, product reliability testing, product testing, reliability testing, reliability testing plan

Incubator VS Accelerator VS Go It Alone: The Startup’s Conundrum

July 16, 2020

Incubator VS Accelerator VS Go It Alone: The Startup's Conundrum

If you are a startup at a very early stage with growing your business and getting products to market, you have a few choices in order to get on the right path. Do you go with Startup Incubator VS Accelerator, or dispense with them and just go it alone? Here are the options in more detail (we'll focus more on hardware startups, rather than purely software startups, as working with them is where most of our experience lies): … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: accelerators, developing new products, go to market, hardware startups, incubators, new product manufacturing

New Product Development: 12 Tradeoffs Every Hardware Startup Faces

June 29, 2020

New Product Development: 12 Tradeoffs Every Hardware Startup Faces

After working with companies that develop their own products for manufacturing here in China, I started to notice a lot of similarities. Every project is different, its challenges are sometimes unique, but the main decision points tend to be the same. (My main focus here is new companies that develop electrical and/or mechanical products based on their own design.) Here are 12 questions you will likely ask yourself. And the pros and cons of each. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: crowdfunding, IP protection, new product development, product concept, product engineering, validating market demand

Prototyping in China: 28 Best Options for Plastic, Metal, PCBA, Silicon and more

June 12, 2020

Prototyping in China: 20 Best Options for Plastic, Metal, PCBA, Silicon and more

Putting the design of a new product idea that is going to be manufactured on paper (sketches) and in 3D drawings (computer-aided design) is usually not sufficient to confirm all aspects of the design. Before proceeding to tooling fabrication, certifications, component purchasing, and manufacturing, you will certainly need to make physical renderings by doing prototyping in China. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: prototypes, prototyping, prototyping companies

New Product Concept Brief: 5 Things Your Industrial Designer Needs To Know

June 9, 2020

New Product Concept: 5 Things an Industrial Designer Needs To Know

If you have a new product concept that you want to manufacture in China in mind, don't go straight to talk to a manufacturer (your concept is still too immature). Instead, you need to start working on 2 axes at the same time: Market demand confirmation - will a sufficient number of people want to buy your product? Industrial design - what will it look like? (I am assuming you are designing an electro-mechanical product.) To illustrate your product concept effectively, you'll be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: developing new products, new product development, new product development process, new product launch, new product manufacturing, product concept, product design brief

18 Electronic Product Design Firms For ‘Made-in-China’ Products

May 25, 2020

List of Design Houses for Electronic Products To Be Made in China

You just came up with a great idea for a new electronic hardware product that you plan to manufacture, and you are wondering what the next step is? The answer at this stage is working on electronic product design and probably not searching for a manufacturer, since they will need these elements: A detailed description of features List of components with specifications, and the product architecture PCB schematic A look-alike and work-alike prototype Testing stations Before you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Develop a New Electronic Product in China Tagged With: design firms, design houses, electronic product design, electronic products, product design

6 Tips To Nail Your Hardware Product’s Concept BEFORE Engaging A Design House

May 18, 2020

6 Tips for BEFORE Engaging a Design House for your New Hardware Product

Many people have an idea for a new hardware product and call us, and in many cases, it is too early, and going to a design house now may also be too early! They need to work with an industrial designer. (I am thinking of electro-mechanical products here.) The logical steps are in this sequence: a. Concept > b. Aesthetic Design > c. CAD Design > d. Proof-of-concept Prototype > e. Work-alike & Look-alike Prototype So, getting the concept right is important. Here are 6 ways to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: design houses, new product development, new product launch, new product manufacturing, product concept, product specifications

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Weekly updates for professional importers on better understanding, controlling, and improving manufacturing & supply chain in China.

This is the official blog of Sofeast.com.

This blog is written by Renaud Anjoran, an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer who has been involved in chinese manufacturing since 2005.

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