Product Development Process in Engineering Design




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In this work I see a lot of inventors. I love inventors. They have the great ideas, but often have no idea where to go next. An invention is wonderful, but the idea is not much till it becomes a reality.
I am often asked: "How do I get my great idea to market?"   - A great question with a not so simple answer. A new product is more than just making a few parts. It's done through a process we call "Product Development".
This article is an attempt to address questions that arise in conversations about "what do I do next?"

The Bright Idea Step 1 - Identify the "Bright Idea"

Requirements Step 2 - Define the Requirements

Step 3 - Information & Planning
(Patent Search, Market Research)

Step 4 - The Design Phase

Design
Prototyping Step 5 -
Prototyping



Production Step 6 -
Production

More
Reading:
Notes about time, costs, etc..
When to apply for patents.

Starting at the Beginning:
     The process starts with a great idea and ends, hopefully, with a desirable product in hand. Morphing the "Bright Idea" into a "Final Product" is a process of thinking through issues & adaptations, working out details, and defining all the specifics -- like how it's made, exact materials, possible failure modes, required regulations, etc..
As an illustration of the process, here is an example we'll follow through the process.

The Problem (an Example):

A few years ago I was looking for new stereo speakers. I visited stores, read articles, books and magazines. I talked to friends and sales people. In the end, I was disappointed that the really "good" speakers were very expensive, and the affordable speakers were ... well, "cheap". I wanted great sound without a mortgage.

The Bright Idea:

Design a high-end speaker that can be made without a paying a fortune.

What then, is the process?
     A simplified diagram of the Product Development Process is shown graphically in the figure to the left. For more information, select the link for each step.
Discovering the "Bright Idea" is the first big step -- and it usually occurs without much of a method. Some typical steps for the rest of the process are discussed on the following pages. Select a link below or
Continue to Step 2

Links for more information: Step 2 - Defining Requirements.
Step 3 - Information & Planning.
Step 4 - The Design Phase.
Step 5 - The Purpose of Prototypes.
Step 6 - Production Details and Production.
Process Notes - Time, Costs, Considerations.
When to Patent - When and Why.