Product Development - February 2011 - STEEN Solutions

Product DevelopmentFeb 2, 2011

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Turnkey Product Development Services

Service inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses

Our goal is to help you reach your goals

STEEN SolutionsAn Engineering Solutions Company


Engineering Services◦ Concept – to – production engineering

Go-to-Market Services◦ Patents and IP protection◦ Marketing◦ Web Development

Seminars and Workshops

STEEN SolutionsAn Engineering Solutions Company


One-stop-shop… ◦ We offer to cover any or all aspects of the product

development process

Diverse, creative, and results-oriented technical team

Communication is our top priority

Focus on customer satisfaction◦ You don’t pay until you are completely satisfied!

Why STEEN Solutions?


Product DevelopmentA process overview


Product Development 101: ◦ Balance Cost, Time, and Quality!

Key elements to product development;◦ An idea ◦ A well-defined goal◦ Funds◦ Patience and persistence!

Product Development Process

?Quality

CostTime


Basic Development Process

However, actual process can be overwhelming◦ Rely on others to get things done!

Product Development Process

Idea Creation

Conceptual Design

Detailed Design

Design Validation Production


Idea / Concept Creation General idea (or problem

statement) is the catalyst for the process◦ Preliminary visions/goals are defined

Secondary challenges often not considered at this stage◦ The “how’s” quickly multiply…

Critical realization: I need assistance!


Idea / Concept Creation Critical aspects to keep in mind;

◦ Document as much as possible about the idea or problem statement Refines the scope of the project

◦ Define benefits of idea with some basic research (and perhaps soul searching) This is a critical checkpoint – a “go/no-go decision”

◦ Decide where assistance is needed to realize idea in timely manner Time, Cost, Quality


Deciding that an idea has merit is exciting!◦ A new journey is about to begin…

However, before discussing idea with anyone, protect your intellectual property (IP)◦ Prepare a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)

When identifying a vendor, be sure to ask that they sign the NDA before sharing your idea(s)

Getting Assistance…


Ensure that compensation scheme for vendor(s) is clearly defined and documented ◦ You need it to stay on budget and to prevent any

unpleasant surprise expenses mid-project◦ Vendor needs it to allocate resources appropriately

and plan project time

Compensation scheme examples;◦ Hourly (“pay as you go”)◦ Project-based (clearly defined deliverables)◦ Bartering (B2B opportunity?)

Getting Assistance…


Outline design requirements and criteria◦ A “technical” document to help engineers

understand what to aim for and when to stop!

Outline a list of clearly defined project checkpoints with objective success criteria◦ Link to project goals and/or design requirements

Conceptual Design


And finally…kick of conceptual product design work◦ Establish a list of the aspects of the idea the conceptual

design should consider and prioritize

◦ Include frequent design reviews with interactive discussions to review progress and ideas

Conceptual Design

◦ Note: Never throw away conceptual design documents or delete files - a crazy idea today can quickly become a good idea tomorrow…


Conceptual design checkpoint!◦ Is there a viable technical solution to all the

identified conceptual areas of the product?

◦ Based in the conceptual design proposal, what is in store for the detailed design phase?

◦ Project status check: Budget on track? Vendor choice still appropriate? Idea / Project goals still valid? (technical,

environmental)

Conceptual Design


Detailed design phase dives into nuts and bolts of product design

Engineering considerations are applied to meet design requirements and criteria optimally

Various engineering tools are used to create the design◦ CAD tools, calculations, simulations, etc

Detailed Design Activities


Conduct design reviews at relevant stages to discuss key design elements◦ Engineering trade-off decisions◦ Engineering analysis conclusions◦ Design risk◦ Technical vs. practical design

decisions



Host a Final Design Review◦ This is a BIG milestone…first official (paper) design

◦ Review a formal presentation of the design as if you were selling it to someone… Product functions Performance specifications Usage outline Design drawings / illustrations Design risk assessment Bill of Materials Etc…



Design Validation With a (paper) design in

your hands, time to validate it!

Prototyping is the most underutilized process

Don’t underestimate the value of prototyping as a design validation tool◦ Nothing ever works flawlessly

the first time …


Design Validation Establish a design risk mitigation plan…

◦ What type of prototype(s) is needed?◦ How should/could design be simplified for easier

prototyping?◦ What type of data should be collected? ◦ How should the data be collected?◦ How much data should be collected?

Use of “partial” prototypes can be a great way to reduce cost of design validation◦ Why make fully functional prototype only to

throw it out because a small feature didn’t work?


Design Validation Prototypes should aim to mitigate identified

design risks◦ Verify functionality of an electrical circuit (PCB)◦ Test the mechanical strength of a component◦ Show’n tell (investors)◦ Test temperature along fluid flow path◦ Optimize user interface for a handle design◦ Test user interface with test groups (software design)

A fully functional prototype can be targeted when/if all design risks are low


Patents and IP Management

Patent filing is an important aspect to consider after a design is outlined

Patent filings are expensive, but can be well worth it◦ Carefully consider the benefits vs. cost

of a patent filing

Talk to the engineering team and patent attorney to identify relevant patent areas


Prototypes have lead to some valuable learnings and design has been updated◦ … Now what?

Get ready to make and sell products!

Key upfront (business) decisions;◦ Product certifications needed?◦ Estimated volume forecast?◦ Geographical areas of product market?◦ Inventory management strategy?◦ Targeted price-point?

Production Readiness


Based on upfront business decisions, outline a manufacturing strategy◦ Outline vendors to;

Provide off-the-shelf parts Provide custom components Assemble sub-systems Assemble final product Test (quality inspection) on component level, sub-

assembly level, and final assembly level Store (inventory)



For each vendor in the manufacturing plan;◦ Establish contract to fix price point,

lead-time, and payment scheme for given time period

◦ Clearly outline quality expectations (quality assurance plan)

◦ Outline business communication model Issues, manufacturing yield, status

updates, etc



Flip the production switch!◦ Plan for a “first article” from each vendor to test

out the newly established vendor strategy◦ Treat it as a “final prototype” and collect data

accordingly

Pending successful test results, give thumbs up for continued production

Production


Go-To-Market services starts before product development efforts are completed

For more info, contact STEEN Solutions

Go-To-Market Services

Idea

Creation

Conceptual Design

Detailed

Design

Design Validation

ProductionIP

Protection

Patent Search

Patent filing

Product Marketing

Web Development


Always have vendor sign NDA to protect your idea◦ If you lose the idea, the project (and goals) are gone

Outsource intelligently◦ Apply your time and skills where relevant outsource the rest

Establish and document project (business) goals◦ Never lose track of the goal…

Have clearly defined checkpoints and objective success criteria (linked to documented goals when possible)◦ Enable others to tell you if the project should continue

Never neglect design prototyping activities◦ Nothing has ever worked perfect the first time. Validation is

needed to pin point problematic areas

The 5 Things to Remember…

Product Development - February 2011 - STEEN Solutions

Engineering

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