The famous quote, “the only constant in life is change,” is also true for a product's design. Very rarely will you have a design that never goes through any changes. As you move through development and into production, you will often discover opportunities to improve performance, reduce cost, address quality issues, or adapt to new supply chain realities. These changes may be necessary, but implementing them directly on the factory floor without structure can lead to confusio

When you are designing a part, the finish is one of the more important decisions made, as it has a major impact on how your product looks and is perceived by the customer. On top of looks, the right surface finish can improve corrosion resistance, durability, and wear resistance. It can also enhance the appearance of the product, whether you want a glossy color, a matte industrial look, or a clean metallic surface. Among the most common finishing methods used in manufacturing

A strong contract manufacturing partnership doesn’t happen by luck. It’s something you build through transparency and shared values. When a brand and a contract manufacturer work together over the long term, both sides benefit: product quality improves, timelines become more predictable, pricing becomes more stable, and the manufacturing process itself becomes more efficient. Yet many companies approach contract manufacturers in a purely transactional way. They send drawings,

As robotics companies move from prototyping to production, one question they need to answer is whether to assemble their products in-house or outsource to a contract manufacturer. This decision shapes not only cost and lead time but also how scalable, reliable, and competitive their business can become. In-house assembly can offer tighter control and a direct connection between engineering and production. On the other hand, outsourcing assembly to an experienced manufacturing

In manufacturing, even small failures can lead to extended lead times and costly rework. That’s why the best contract manufacturers do not wait for issues to arrive, they are proactive about finding them. PFMEA, or Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, is a structured tool that helps identify and address potential risks in a production process before they impact output. Unlike traditional quality checks that happen after production, PFMEA focuses on preventing problems a

When working with a contract manufacturer, you’ll need to share with them the product data so they can offer you a quote. You usually...

When you are launching a new product, the operations for both production and marketing need to come together. This means you need to understand the timelines associated with each task. On the production side, one task you need to understand is the plastic injection molding timeline.  Without understanding this timeline, marketing will end up waiting for products longer than they anticipated.  The plastic injection molding timeline can vary depending on the complexity of the p

Bringing a new lifestyle product to market is exciting, but there are many development and financial strains with this. With limited...

A pilot run  is one of the most important steps in moving your electromechanical product from development into mass production. Its main...

Developing a robotics product is not like building a simple consumer gadget. Robotics products are often electromechanical assemblies...