How to Manufacture a Product
The mind of an inventor is almost like the idea machine. Your brain produces a concept that sparks curiosity about the game plan and for how to get a product made. The generator is product manufacturing. The process leading up to it allows you to deepen the brief and transform it to be ready for the market. If you are looking for a step-by-step guide for the looming question of ‘how to manufacture my own product’, you have come to the right place.
Step 1: Research and Develop Your Idea
During this product development phase, it’s crucial that you curate the want and set a strong target audience. For instance, who is this product calculated for? and what is the product’s market looking like right now? Not to mention, what is your marketing plan?
When you take all of this into perspective, you will have the first signal of self-proclaimed validation. Your idea will now be ready to focus on more of the analytical design aspect of your idea. This includes the function, sourcing the best materials, and how it will run smoothly in the world of the consumer journey.
Once the prototyping chapter begins, these notes and concept sketches can become useful.
Step 2: Protect Your Property
Before moving forward and or employing other resources, it’s important to form an exclusivity agreement. This will help provide a degree of legal protection, so another company and or a manufacturer can’t use or sell the product through any medium.
It’s also important to really investigate all aspects of intellectual properly. For instance, can you copyright the design that is created or should the company’s name need trademark protection.
At MAKO, we work with the best intellectual property attorneys in both the US and Canada for our clients during the product manufacturing process and beyond.
Step 3: Make a Prototype
Bringing your idea to life through prototyping is not only exciting, but it gives the opportunity to test and refine the concepts created during research and developing your idea.
The philosophy behind this is to achieve a basic understanding of requirements and explore different variations. CAD (computer-aided design) assists in activating these elements through simulations. The prototype can either break down into a whole or isolated. Not to mention, build individual elements. This depends on what is the most suitable for your product.
With that being said, consulting a trustworthy design firm like MAKO is the glue that holds this process of product prototyping together. It’s especially important as prototypes at this stage can also be launched into a small group of consumers and industry professionals for additional feedback.
Step 4: Find a Manufacturer
When working with a manufacturer, it’s important to build a solid relationship. Therefore there are many factors to consider. For example:
- Excellent reputation + certification – You can consult former and current clients. Not to mention, you can check in with local and international Better Business Bureau‘s.
- Ethical compliance – This includes labor rights and environmental impact.
- Expertise – The manufacturer has worked with and or has knowledge in similar product’s type + select demographic.
- Order Capabilities – Does the manufacturer have the capabilities to supply the amount needed? Also, does the manufacturer have the manpower for expansion down the road?
- Costs – Is the quoted numeration reasonable? And does it cover shipping?
Step 5: Obtain Multiple Quotes
Now, it’s time to dive deeper into the potential prospects. This means narrowing down certain questions that are imperative to have cited when moving forward. For example, if there are any payment conditions, sample costs, and even offers for the first batch of minimal order quantities.
Through this, the information collected should support your intellectual intuition when forming a decision.
Step 6: Order a Sample
At this point, your invention will be ready to form into a small or singular quantity. This method ensures that the final product has met its expectations before performing a full production.
When ordering a sample, the process is quite straightforward. Typically, you will need to send in a request with the prototype to the manufacturer representative. They should follow up with any instructions or respected procedures. The manufacturer will then use it as a foundation to curate the sample product.
Step 7: Test Prototypes
Once the samples are received, it’s time to implement it into the environment in which it will be used in.
This phase is almost like playing a local in a new city. Your product will face a variety of different outcomes to determine interlinkage and durability. It would also be a great idea to bring back a focus group of industry consumers and inner circle connections. They also may be able to view it in more of an unique perspective.
Manufacturing a Product: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to manufacture a product?
As every product needs different forms of attention, the cost can vary. However, you will be provided an estimate through either your product design team and or a quote by the manufacturer themselves.
What to look for in a product manufacturer?
After carrying out the characteristics of the product and have created a prototype within design team, it’s now easier to determine the best practice and location. However, excellent reputation and expertise of the market you would like to reach seem to be the general idea.
What should I do before manufacturing a product?
First and foremost, it’s important to consult a design firm like MAKO, who has over 20 years of experience working with clients like yourself and manufacturers. But, you should have researched the materials needed, created a prototype, receive quotes from prospective manufacturers, regimentation, and testing.
If you would like to learn more on manufacturing inventions from MAKO’s Senior Product Strategist, take a look at one of our archived entry’s here.
Where can a product be made?
From product development right to patenting, you will have an in-house team right here at MAKO. We work on over 150 different projects per year that range from products that are straightforward to ones that are more complex. There is nothing that you can’t achieve by partnering with us.
Final Notes
As we have learned, the more we feed research and testing to the generator that is product manufacturing, the quality of the inventor’s concept can really rev up the success of the launch into the unique market.
About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!
