Product Manufacturing: How to get your own product made?
Starting a new product and, do you want to know how to get your product manufactured? In this blog artikel we cover step by step which path you should take from reaching your prototype to finding a product manufacturer.
In most cases a product idea starts with a eureka moment and a bulk of energy to start becoming an entrepreneur. But to become one is a hard and long path. Actual studies show a failure rate of 95% for businesses that want to launch a new product. If you want to increase your chances significantly we will help you by giving you 5 questions which are essential to answer before getting into the product manufacturing process.
1. Where do I want my products to be manufactured?
There are a couple of options where you could get your products manufactured, although they all got their pro’s en cons, you should try and figure out which country/continent suits your wishes the best. There are 2 big parties when it comes to product manufacturing. You got Asia which is known for cheap production but it could sometimes lack some specific qualities and increase lead times. Then there are the western country’s, those most of the time a bit more expensive than Asia but not always! But besides the price, leadtimes and quality, there are some other variables that you should reconsider before choosing a manufacturing partner:
- MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity), how many products do you need the first badge. This is an important factor to consider when picking the right manufacturing location.
- Shipping time, the further from home the longer the shipping time (at least in most cases) and cost. When you need your product on rather short notice it might be wise to order them relatively close to home.
- Brand, there are some audiences that respond better to products/products parts that are made in the western world. That’s why you should think about this matter in advantage, this could be a critical factor in the decisionmaking process of your audience.
2. Key tips before starting manufacturing your products?
Choosing the right partner is a crucial step in getting your products to the market. This manufactorer could be your partner for a long time and your business relation could go on for years and years. So you better make sure this a reliable, flexible, and trustworthy partner right? Well, therefore we got a couple of tips for you:
- Multiple contacts, don’t depend on 1 person in the company, if he/she stops or goes on holiday you could get in trouble. Make sure you establish a relationship with multiple people on the other end. Knowing who to talk to at what moment could save you some time and money as well.
- Communicate clearly, this is key for a valuable relationship with your manufacturer. In a lot of country’s Google translate is the go-to tool for reading your English e-mails. You see now why some words could get mixed up, words got easily misinterpreted. Avoid using complex words and asking for confirmation is a wise thing to do in these cases.
Now you’ve gathered all this information you can make a well-considered decision about a manufacturing partner. What we recommend is testing the waters with some, communicate back and forth to see if they can live up to your needs and wishes. You want to make sure you providing the maximum amount of information to your manufacturer, and you get a reasonable quote in return.
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3. How do I turn my prototype into a product run?
After completing the first essential steps it is about time to turn your prototype into a real product. The product manufacturing of your prototype can start after take these 3 essential steps:
1. Determine pricing and material stocks
You should start with creating a bill of materials (BOM). This bill will include the total price of every individual part as well as the assembly. Your BOM should also include all kinds of additional costs like import taxes, shipping, and labor.
It’s very important to inventory these costs before manufacturing your product. That way you can set a retail price with the right margin.
2. Prepare for some bumps
Of course, you’re hoping for some smooth sailing down the manufacturing road. But is that expected? Not really, in most manufacturing and shipping processes they are some obstacles to overcome. Most of those bumps got their foundation in flawed communication. That’s why we can’t remind you enough to keep communicating crystal clear with your manufacturer.
3. The Pilot manufacturing Run
The pilot manufacturing run prepares you for the real product launch. During this phase of the product development cycle, each item or component will be manufactured in the same and the same frequency as if the actual launch. After this run the last procedures or assembly instruction are employed and if needed to be modified. After this moment you can start manufacturing your first end products.
4. Get your manufactured products in your hands!
Once you finished the pilot run the manufacturing of your final product starts. This process and the transportation to your location is a process that can take months. A timeframe of 60 to 100 days is pretty common.
Whatever it’s, heavy, light, big or small you will need a place to store it. Intermodal transport uses multiple options to get your badge of products from A to B. Often this means your product arrives (for example) by sea and the container will be picked up at the dock by a transportation train to an inland transportation hub. A truck will cover the last part of the route and deliver your products to your storage unit.
Getting your products manufactured by Production Heroes
At Production Heroes we care most for sustainable and high-quality products. That’s why we manufacture (Blow molding, Injection molding, alumium extrusion) your products most diligently and efficiently. During the whole process, communication is key, we understand you want the right guidance during the entire process. Besides being a very reliable partner in the manufacturing process our expertise goes further. We got professionals on the floor who bring over 20 years of experience in product design and mechanical engineering. They can guide your innovations to greatness.
