There are a lot of steps between developing your prototype and producing a product that is ready to be manufactured. A prototype may be very exciting, but it is still just that – a prototype. Let’s talk about how to make sure your product design is ready for production.

How to make sure your product design is ready for production

One of the first steps to knowing if you are ready to start manufacturing your product is knowing your product’s manufacturability. Manufacturability is the measurement of how easily a product can be manufactured. For example, if your product requires special materials and machinery, training, and nonstandard designs, then it has low manufacturability.

In addition to knowing your product’s manufacturability, you also should know the estimate of how much it’s going to cost to manufacture. To ensure that your product is financially sustainable, you need to have an idea of the production cost. Your final product cost should coincide with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Ideally, your production cost estimate should be less than 50% of your targeted MSRP.

Finally, you should have a documentation package ready to go. A documentation package is all of the written information regarding your product and production process. This information can include details about how to manufacture your product, what materials to use, and any other pertinent details about the production process.

Moving from the prototype phase to the production phase is a big step in the manufacturing process, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Before moving into the manufacturing stage, you need to know your product’s manufacturability, an estimate of how much it’ll cost, and a documentation package. If you’re ready to start manufacturing a product, you contact Alfred Manufacturing, and we can help you turn your prototype into more.