The product development process is an intricately woven journey, marked by a multitude of complex tasks. From the first idea to the final launch, each phase demands close attention to detail, strategic planning, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The complexity arises from the need to seamlessly integrate several diverse elements. Market research, technical feasibility, user-centered design, engineering, manufacturing, and quality testing all must be considered.
On top of an already complex process, the dynamic nature of markets and technology demands products to move quickly through development to stay competitive. This race to market often creates additional hurdles that can disrupt a product’s development. Unforeseen challenges and last-minute changes to meet evolving customer expectations can often create expensive delays in a program.
Despite this ever-changing landscape, the product development process has largely remained the same. This is because establishing a clear development path is the best way to address unknowns. Each phase reduces risk by uncovering project-specific needs early. This creates a product roadmap capable of navigating the intricate web of considerations when bringing your idea to life.
While the tools used may change depending on the needs of a project, the goal of each phase listed below will remain reliably consistent. These are the essential phases of product development.
PHASE 1 – Investigation & Requirements Definition
This phase is crucial for projects where requirements are not fully defined, feasibility is not known, or research is required. This time should be used to fully understand the product’s goals, target market, and key risks. Depending on the project’s needs, the following are de-risking options that lay a solid foundation for the rest of the project.
- Research report
- Preliminary risk analysis
- Early feasibility or risk reduction prototyping/testing
- User workflow identification/analysis
- Workflow analysis
- High-level architecture concepts
- Market Research
- Requirements development assistance
Each task listed above can help identify important opportunities that will allow the product to thrive. You can then select and identify requirements based on these discoveries to define later phases. This is the best way to achieve goals and stay on schedule. Without a project-specific plan it is ready to rush ahead.
PHASE 2 – Concept Development
The concept development phase serves as an exercise that combines idea generation with practical implementation. During this critical phase, multiple solutions are illustrated that satisfy the requirements identified in phase 1 while also exploring a variety of forms.
User interface, human factors, ergonomics, and usability are all explored at this time. engineering techniques are then used to understand the effects of each design decision. Risks are documented and feasibility is proven. Concepts often go through multiple iterations before achieving the right combination of requirements.
The goal of this phase is to provide enough information to confidently explore and downselect concepts. The following are common tools used to do just that.
- Concept Sketches
- Feasibility prototypes
- Cost Analysis
- Decision Matrix
A well-executed concept development phase not only ensures that the product aligns with user needs and market demands but also minimizes the risk of costly iterations later in the process. Choosing a concept without a clear understanding of its execution can lead to program delays and other expensive setbacks.
PHASE 3 – Design and Prototype
This is when details are worked out and designs are brought to life. Concepts established in Phase 2 are now put to the test under design controls as they take physical shape for the first time. This creates the greatest period of discovery throughout the entire development process.
Prototyping enables the identification and resolution of potential design flaws or technical challenges. Identifying this early in the development process is crucial in preventing costly revisions during later stages. Contract manufacturers are also asked to provide design input to allow a seamless transition later in the production stage. Taking shortcuts in this phase is one of the easiest ways to negatively affect the time it takes to get a product to market.
Additionally, prototypes serve as powerful communication tools, facilitating collaboration and feedback from stakeholders, and end-users. This collaboration often takes the form of user interviews and controlled tests. Prototypes are reviewed by their target audience to highlight any ergonomic, or usability refinements that may be needed. Their feedback ultimately provides insight into how the final product will be received by the populace.
Risk management activities continue throughout this phase and design activities from all disciplines are completed and documented. As refinements are made, the below tasks are done to find any necessary changes before moving forward.
- Industrial design and human factors review
- Functional devices are built and tested
- Engineering verification testing and iterations to meet specs and requirements
A design review closes out the phase to ensure the work done satisfies all the specified requirements. If multiple concepts are being explored, this is when the best idea will stand out and final decisions can be made. This reduces the risks/issues found in design verification, so the device is ready to progress to Phase 4.
PHASE 4 – Production Development
As the final product begins to take shape, it is important to begin optimizing the design for production. Material selection, tolerance, and tooling considerations all need to be carefully considered as they can greatly impact the final result. The wrong material can ruin aesthetics and increase cost. The wrong tolerance can affect performance. Lastly, if tooling is not considered the final design may be impossible to make.
Although this phase is near the end of the process, it is best practice to have design for manufacturing (DFM) in mind throughout all stages. Having an idea of how to make your product at the start will give you an advantage as you reach this phase. Once production is fully considered refined CAD and other documentation are then created that clearly define the design of each part. Understanding the manufacturing process and providing clear documentation is crucial in guaranteeing the final product hits its mark.
PHASE 5 – Manufacturing Optimization
This final phase carries immense importance as it bridges the gap between ideation and commercialization. Turning theoretical designs into mass-produced, high-quality goods.
To enhance the reliability and durability of the product, each unit must meet rigorous quality standards. Therefore, it is not enough to simply rely on manufacturers to achieve the intended final result. Engineering services still need to provide manufacturing optimization by aiding with design updates, tooling support, and vendor management.
improper execution of this phase will directly impact cost-effectiveness, time-to-market, and the ability to meet demand. All are crucial factors in today’s competitive business landscape.
Successful navigation through the challenges of production requires seamless coordination between engineering, logistics, and quality control. This combination is key in bringing innovative concepts to the hands of consumers. Ultimately, the success of a product hinges not only on its design but equally on the efficiency and precision exhibited during the manufacturing stage.
This guest blog post was provided by Acorn Product Development. Acorn Product Development is a leading provider of product development consulting with over 30 years of experience. They offer comprehensive product design services that can enhance usability, optimize aesthetics, or ensure manufacturability. As concept development experts, they guide businesses through each phase to bring their innovative product ideas to life. From concept to production, our integrated engineering and design team has the skills to produce market success. If you need help getting to the next phase or want to learn more about their process, click this link to contact them now.
