Product realisation: 6 steps to bring your ideas to life

But how do you take that seed of an idea and go about designing, manufacturing, and distributing it to the masses? The answer lies in effective product realisation services, says Phil Simmonds, CEO of EC Electronics.

Product realisation combines market research and technological requirements with capabilities and resources to define the new product designs and requisite manufacturing services. Although every invention idea is different, there are standard stages every product design project will go through along the route to market.

Once you have carefully considered which electronic contract manufacturer you will outsource your product design project to, it is time to dive into the six steps that will take your idea and transform it into reality.

1. Concept

To discover the idea of your product, you need to the pain points in your industry. What needs are currently unmet in the market? What do consumers want from their electronic devices – and what are the most common complaints of existing products?

Once you have pinpointed these problems, dig deeper into how your idea will be the solution. Who is your target customer? How much will you charge for your product? Is there enough interest in your idea to justify your investment in design and manufacturing? Who will your competitors be – and what gives your idea the edge?

2. Design

Now, it is time to create a design the electronics manufacturing team will work from: the blueprint for your electronic product.

Your design must consider the functionality of your product, as well as engineering specifications to ensure high performance and reliability. Expert product designers and manufacturers will be equipped to compile the appropriate design guidelines for your product – including materials, finishes and colours.

After listening to your requirements, concerns and project ‘must-haves’, your product designers will provide you with a functional and cost-effective design – even suggesting ways to modify your design to make it more appealing to your target buyer.

When you have reviewed all product design concepts and selected the one that best fits the brief, the project requirements can be assembled to guide the development phase.

3. Business advice

Assessing feasibility is essential in new product development. It allows you to gauge your product’s potential success by reviewing the business case from different perspectives.

An ideal electronic contract manufacturer will provide you with consultancy on how to take your product to market successfully – from general business management support and guidance on funding to advising you how much to price your product at.

4. Prototyping

An idea can sound great on paper but, in practice, may not work out exactly how you had imagined.

Prototyping – including cable and printed circuit board assemblies – allows you to see your concept as a fully functioning product. This is the perfect time to ask lots of questions to ensure your product is top-quality and market-ready.

Is the product durable enough to withstand harsh conditions, like vibration or heat? Have you chosen the best material for the product’s intended use? Which characteristics are essential – and which can you compromise on? Is it possible to produce this product within budget on a larger scale?

Realising any kinks before mass-producing the product will save you invaluable time, money, and resources. Remember, you can always return to the design stage to fix any issues.

5. Manufacturing

Congratulations – you have made it to the manufacturing stage of your project!

Now that you have a product prototype you are happy with, it is time to start securing the materials and partners needed to develop your product.

A specialist electronics manufacturing company will already have an established supply chain for you to tap into – saving you the hassle of acquiring materials and finding suppliers yourself.

Regular checks should be made throughout the electronics manufacturing process to maintain quality control. Comprehensive testing of the final product (against your design specifications) is also critical to evaluate the robustness of the design – and its ability to meet customer and performance requirements.

6. Distribution

Once your product rolls off the production line, it is time to get it out to market.

At this stage, it is also essential to consider other manufacturing-related services. Does your electronic contract manufacturer have the necessary facilities to store your products? Do they have the capacity to support your fulfilment and distribution needs?

With the right electronics manufacturing company assisting your project, the support goes beyond your product being dispatched.

Working with EC Electronics means you can benefit from continued advice — with the team of experts helping you innovate as technological advances provide opportunities to adapt products or lower costs.

Are you ready to bring your idea to life?