5 Steps for Product Development of an Electronic Device

A durable and quality electronic device comes with a successful and well-planned production development. Aside from a tech company’s brand values, mission, and vision, the core objective of manufacturing electronic devices is to help customers in improving their lives.

Today, product development remains to be the strength and the future capital of electronic companies in the continuing growth of technological innovation. It fosters a tech company’s innovation and brand through strategic procedural outcomes in producing electronic devices.

Electronic devices, particularly in mobile phones, have been upgrading in today’s millennial generation. However, have you ever wondered how these innovations started from scratch? Perhaps, we admit that we overlook the behind the scenes. In this article, we will reveal the Five Steps of Production Development for an Electronic Device.

What is Product Development?

Product Development refers to the stages of bringing a product from an idea to its mass production. Its objective is to establish, maintain, and sustain the company’s market by strategic procedural outcomes.

While some market professionals fuse product development with product management, in reality, the former covers the latter. Meaning, that product development encompasses all production activities, including product management, marketing, design, testing, quality assurance, and shipping and distribution.

In the context of electronic device production, product development plays an integral part for both customers and the company.

First, in product development, there’s an intensive realignment of marketing objectives with the technical process. Electronic devices should be marketable as it gains usefulness.

Second, product development reassures the company’s compliance with safety protocol and measures. While most electronic companies expand their market outside their territory, they need to comply with requirements for foreign certifications.

Lastly, product development integrates the competency of a company through innovation and R&D. Manufacturing of products doesn’t end only in maximizing profits, but also, companies ensure that products come with the trend and relevance.

5 Steps of Production Development for an Electronic Device

1. Concept Refinement

The production of your electronic parts started with the development of an idea. At this starting point, your team needs to determine how your prospect electronic part meets the demands and needs of your target customers through a value proposition.

During a concept refinement stage, your team will undergo two processes: the brainstorming and the proper marketing research.

Brainstorming

While engineers question the process of building and manufacturing of your device, always weigh the core purpose and essence of your production: Who is your target market? What are their present needs? Why does your prospect electronic part matter against your market competitors?

Ask questions. Highlight every importance. Relate it to the concept. And repeat the cycle. During the brainstorming, always think about the end in mind.

Proper Marketing Search

During a proper marketing search, you’ll set standards and find weaknesses to your assumptions. Here, there are two marketing research strategies to consider:

  1. Problem Research

As you refine your concept, humanizing them will ensure how your ideas bring value to your customers. Here, you need to identify your customers’ brand personas – their wants, desires, urges, and needs. You may conduct Likert scale surveys or gather narrative through quick interviews.

  1. Solution Research

Once you have established a hypothesis from your problem research, your team needs to sketch a prototype on how your product looks.

2. Proposal Preparation

Proposal Preparation prompts your team to form and define the Minimal Viable Product (MVP), as required during the engineering and manufacturing stages.

At this stage, your team now combines ideas and materializes it as your “duck tape prototype.” Here, it’s not the final prototype, as it only evaluates the feasibility of your device by testing basic technical viability and human economics.

If your team’s prototype passed the feasibility test, then you can now assemble a Product Requirements Document (PRD), which will contain all functional specifications for the MVP.

Your PRD will be evaluated through this criteria:

  • Feature: The clear details of your product with practical specifications and functional requirements;
  • Product Purpose: Your targeted customers and their brand personas;
  • Release Criteria: A list of requirements needs for final product release; and
  • Schedule: A feasible time frame for production development.

3. Prototype Development

Now that you’ve accomplished the concept refinement and proposal preparation stages, your team’s next task is to develop a prototype.

What is a Prototype?

Circuit Specialists define a prototype as a model used to determine the feasibility of your electronic part and to test its development in the research and pre-production stages.

During the prototype development, your team will create a software and control instructions. Depending on the device, the prototype development will help improve your prototype’s appearance and physical design in mimicking the finished product.

As such, your developed prototype serves as a testbed for the software to ensure the compatibility of hardware changes with software algorithms.

4. Testing and Refinement

In the fourth stage of product development, your team’s developed prototype will undergo three main engineering validation stages:

Engineering Validation and Testing (EVT)

Engineering Validation and Testing will determine if your prototype matches the functional requirements as outlined in the PRD. The printed circuit board (PCB) will undergo thermal, power, and EMI stresses. As a general rule, the PCB should completely work and function afterwards. In the end, EVT will configure your prototype to meet the required standards for functionality, reliability, and performance.

Designing Validation and Testing

During a Design Validation and Testing, your team will focus on the products’ response to cosmetics and environment. Hence, it will undergo three subprocesses:

First, there will be an inspection and development of the tools used in your product.

Second, you’ll orient your contract manufacturer about the DFM (Design for Manufacturing) issues. Here, you’ll perform real stress to test the durability of your product, particularly in falling, breaking, burning, and waterproof tests.

Lastly, your team needs to meet some requirements to get certification and standards procedures for countries you target to market.

Production Validation and Testing

Production Validation and Testing will reiterate the test conducted in EVT and DVT. Here, your team only needs to pass the marketability requirements in all test stations. Also, a pilot production will be performed to check any factory defects at the stages of the production line.

Remember: PVT is a crucial stage. So your team should focus on the mastery of EVT and DVT to qualify for mass production.

5. Mass Production

In the name itself refers to the production of your electronic parts – for selling and manufacturing. While mass production is considered to be the final stage, still, your team needs to maintain the streak of your product by looking for issues and factory defects in the design and manufacturing process.

If your team gets a high sampling rate on reliability tests after 6 months, then finally, its time for you to gain wealth.

Key Takeaways

Product development remains to be the strength and the future capital of electronic companies in the continuing growth of technological innovation. Through a well-planned and strategic product development results in durable and quality electronic parts.

The goal of product development is to establish, maintain, and sustain the company’s market by strategic procedural outcomes.

In the context of electronic parts production, product development plays an integral part for both customers and the company through an intensive realignment of marketing objectives with the technical process, a reassurance of the company’s compliance with safety protocols and measures, and integration of company’s competence through innovation and R&D.

Behind your screens, gadgets, and home electrical appliances are the five steps of production for an Electronic Device, such as:

  1. Concept Refinement;
  2. Proposal Preparation;
  3. Prototype Development;
  4. Testing and Refinement; and
  5. Mass Production.
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Libby Austin

Libby Austin, the creative force behind alltheragefaces.com, is a dynamic and versatile writer known for her engaging and informative articles across various genres. With a flair for captivating storytelling, Libby's work resonates with a diverse audience, blending expertise with a relatable voice.
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