DESIGN ENGINEERING
Here’s how the story usually goes:
You have a great idea for a product.
But it involves complex metalworking and combined materials.
Lacking in-house engineering talent, you look for a talented manufacturer to develop the product and deal with any problems.
Going against your DNA, you relinquish control of costs, design or delivery or even all three, to them.
Clock ticking, the manufacturer either: cuts corners on materials and surface finishes, or innovates solutions to unexpected snags that throw up more problems that grate against your own designs.
When the shipment finally arrives, exhaustive quality control inspections reveal that the ‘finished’ product isn’t compliant in your target market.
Left with unsaleable stock, possibly PR issues and even a share price nightmare, a frantic search ensues to deal with the stock or to hire a seasoned design engineer to fix things…
Which is the point in this horror story where I typically make my grand entrance.
A simple modification to the screw design had numerous positive benefits:
-
ensured the leather workers had a quick, easy job during assembly.
-
The previous iteration caused delays, crossed-treads and all round frustration.
-
The modification cost nothing, simply a little time to study the problem.
Here’s how the story could have gone:
You have a great idea for a product.
But it involves complex (or even simple) metalworking and combined materials.
Now you call me in. I assess which materials, processes and finishes to use, introducing new ideas to save time, money, and add value.
Using tools like Rhino and Solidworks, I can model out any problems that may arise. And hardware meeting compliance demands into the finished design specification.
I hand pick the perfect manufacturer to deliver the finished product at the best price. And work with them to resolve any unforeseen issues they might have.
The finished product sails through testing and flies off the shelves in your target market. And everyone – including a usually taciturn accountant – applaud wildly.
Choose how you want the story to end
People come to me when problems arise, typically when they think it’s too late. It never is of course – there is always a solution.
But if I come in early, even if it is just to oversee a product spec or act as the technical liaison with a manufacturer, there are substantial savings and added value to be had.
Whether it’s too late – this time – or you want a design engineer with supply chain and compliance expertise to fix things so they never break again – get in touch.
It might make for a better brand story.
I use computer modelling to assess a new or even an existing design. It really can answer questions quickly and easily, while your design is still in-house. If you're not already doing this, then you should be considering how to.
Working through the the issue, applying thought, knowledge and experience, will invariably lead to the right solution and usually quicker than you might think.
Both these sketches solved issues for the supplier and allowed development to continue but with both Design and Budget briefs satisfied.
Designing tools for servicing can be easily accommodated during any well considered development. I never lose sight of the whole picture.