Frequently Asked Questions . . . FAQ

In context of what we do at Synthesis, Engineering Services are tasks, or consulting, or analysis on technical topics; usually to support businesses with product design, product development, failure analysis (forensics), or manufacturing.  The list also includes supply chain support, material choices, and process optimization.

Read about many of the Engineering Services we provide on these pages:

• Product Design & Development, and more on Product Development.
• Engineering Consulting, and even more on Consulting Services.
• Custom Machines & Tools, and several examples of Jigs, Fixtures and Custom Machines.
• Innovative Design Solutions, or see Patents we’ve been involved with, or even more on Design Innovation.

We use this term to describe the process of bringing ideas from first concept all the way into production.  Every new product starts as an idea which grows and morphs and expands as it develops into a final product.  Some products are sold at stores, some solve specific problems, some stay in a factory to make production easier.  These all start with ideas and end up as useful things.

This whole evolution from Idea to Product is called The Product Development Process, and there is a lot to it, much more than most people realize.  It seems like it should be simple, but there are a lot of details that have to be worked out besides the design.

Learn About It

If this is a path you are on, we hope you are getting good advice and possibly some skilled help.  Product development is something Synthesis has been doing for a long time, so let us know if you want some help.  We can guide, or help with bigger portions — that’s all up to you.

Can You Show Some Examples?

We have product development examples of our work all over the website, but some specific places to look are:  The Portfolio (Slide Show), and the Case Studies area of the blog.

This is a great question, and we have published a few different pages to answer it (along with the many follow-on questions).  Our Engineering Consulting Services page is a great place to start.

The Short Answer:  It maximizes your capabilities with short-term, significant expertise.

Read more about Leveraging Your Resources and about Engineering Consulting through Synthesis.

At Synthesis, we provide value in many activities often labeled “Consulting Services”.  These range from phone consultations, to in-depth on-site studies; from solving problems, to failure analysis (Forensics), to design recommendations.  It may sound like a lot, but basically, “Consulting Services” are those where we use our knowledge, insight and creativity to help reach your goals.

Can You Show Examples?

We have engineering consulting examples in many areas of the website, but some specific places are:  The Slide Show, the Engineering Consulting page, the Consulting Services page, and the Case Studies area of the blog.

Of course, the best way to find out if we can help you is to call us.  Ask the direct questions about your situation.  If we can assist, then great.  If not, that’s OK too.

This is a great question, yet a proper answers depend on your specific project.  Here are some guides.

Product Development:

Cost is the single most constraining aspect of Product Development, and it holds back many projects.  However, the cost of Engineering is not usually the biggy.  It’s not cheap to engineer, prototype, develop, or manufacture, so it’s important to make good decisions all along the way.  That’s one place where Synthesis knowledge and experience can help.

Every new project is different, so without details, we can’t guess at the cost for you.  However, we constantly see dozens of ways customers pay too much, and in that alone, we can save money.  We’ll help you think through options and find ways to minimize this aspect of your new development.

Consulting:

Again, it’s impossible to estimate a project without understanding it.  That said, spending money for consulting to streamline your hurdles and accelerate your project puts you ahead in the long run.  Also, for shorter projects, it certainly saves money over hiring full-time staff.  Read more on cost benefits.

How It Works:

There are many ways to structure relationships, but these are the most common:

1. If the project is well defined from beginning to end, we can work on a Firm, Fixed Price.  We’ll agree on services and price, then work to that.
2. If the project path is not well defined, or if end goals are not definitive, we can work to Time and Materials.
3. Custom options are available, and specific to your situation.

Please call to discuss your project and we’ll help with a much better idea on cost numbers.

While we do have a few favorites, the Synthesis paradigm brings innovative thinking beyond traditional boundaries to cross-pollinate many industries.  We serve a spectrum of industries by bringing the brilliance of each to all the others.

See the Design Slide Show and the engineering Case Study Examples for a perspective.

The Full Answer to this question along with examples from some of our favorite industries are highlighted in This Post — from our blog, The Engineer’s Perspective.

Do We Serve In Your Industry?

The best way to know is to ask.   We welcome questions and comments about industry and how we can best serve you.

Thank you for asking.  Buildings, HVAC and other such systems are a specialties in Mechanical Engineering or Civil Engineering.  Unfortunately, those are not areas where we work.  We are not trained in the regulations surrounding such systems.  Sorry we can’t help with these.

This is an important question with many variations.  Hopefully, this answer covers the direction you are thinking.  However, depending on your position in industry, you may find the response a little pointed.  We apologize.

Engineering Certifications

We congratulate all who create, then seek to be sure the design is sound.  That said, there is a common misconception that an engineering ‘Stamp’ assures – well ‘everything’.  In reality, there are many different types of approvals.   Knowing the approvals you need in your industry and situation is important.

For some products, the necessary approvals come from testing like CE or UL or other associations.  That is different than “engineering approval”.  In other situations, a product inspection is what matters for certification (like a trailer build).  Then yes, for a few types, a Professional Engineer’s Stamp is required.  (Most common for buildings, bridges, water systems, public services, etc..)

Professional Engineers

At Synthesis we believe the concept of having licensed professionals is a worthy endeavor.  Since engineering touches on so many things of a critical nature, there is a need for such professionals.  However, (a BIG however), the way it is fulfilled in our society misses the mark, and not by a little.

It is disappointing, but in our work we’ve dealt with too many incompetent Professional Engineers (PE’s), and we don’t want association with their reputation.  (Obviously, there is more to the story.)  It’s unfortunate, but it seems the current system is made to harbor incompetence mixed among the good engineers.

That said, we don’t have a ‘Stamp‘, don’t want a ‘Stamp‘, and don’t do the work requiring one.  Actually, very few things in product development require it.  Creative thinking, innovation, problem solving, common sense, troubleshooting, and most design & development does not require a ‘Stamp‘.  In these areas, we are happy to help.

Can You Certify My Design?

People often ask us to ‘Stamp’ or approve their design.  While we recognize great design comes from many sources, the engineering required to validate a design requires work and detailed analysis.  We do analysis, and we are happy to review your design.  We are also happy to help you meet requirements for testing or approvals you may need.  However, if your application specifically requires a ‘Stamp’ of some kind, we are not the right choice.

Along the same lines, we are skilled with Product Design and Development including Custom Machines and other product related Engineering Services.  We DON’T do buildings, basements, foundations, HVAC, roads, bridges, tower cranes, or those kinds of projects.  Though they are definitely “mechanical” in nature, that is not the part of the Mechanical Engineering we do.  Thanks for understanding.

This is a fantastic position, and though the path for every new idea is a little different, the general directions are similar.  To answer the host of questions that inventions bring, start by reading The Product Development Process, all the pages, and The Inventor’s Lab.

Then, if you are planning to make a business out of your new product idea, we have some helpful tips in the article Keep Your Startup Out Of The Sand.

First, we congratulate you.  Harnessing creativity is not something everyone can do, so that’s awesome.

Second, the need for a patent is driven by these questions.  1, Will you sell or licensing the invention?  Or, 2, is it big enough and worth enough to justify spending the money to acquire a patent?  Oh, and 3, Do you have the money for it?

Patents can be a huge financial sink, and just because you get a patent does not mean no one will copy.  Patents are only as good as your pockets are deep.  Yes, if someone does violate your patent, you have the right to go after them, but that can be very costly.

Recommended Reading

I recommend you read two articles specifically about patents — this one first, then this one.

Most importantly, seek the guidance of a Patent Attorney.

A patent is not the end of discussion about new products or even about competitive advantage.  We help customers deal with this situation a lot, and there are many considerations — too much to print here.  Please, follow this link for the complete answer.

Excellent question.  However, answers are not as simple.  It depends on the kind of prototype (fabric, steel, plastic, . . .), and the purpose for the prototype (functional prototype, show-n-tell, . . .).

Often this question is asked by someone that wants a 3D print, but does not have a CAD model.  3D printing does require a 3D CAD model, and yes, we can help with that.

Other kinds of prototypes may or may not require CAD work.  Please contact us and we’ll help you figure it out.

Recommended Reading

You can read a bunch more prototyping in the Product Development Process article — the section on Prototypes.  And, we are happy to help with specifics if you Contact Us.

At Synthesis, we use both Pro/Engineer and SolidWorks in house.  That said, for most situations the actual software is not so important, since most CAD programs interact and will read the common formats.  Please Give Us A Call if you have specific questions.

Actually, we have a bunch of Tips and Helps and much more about trailers — and about building all sorts of stuff.  The focus is Do-It-Yourself at the Mechanics Post on Mechanical Elements.  It is full of great information and ideas.

MechanicalElements.com is a DIY web portal.  It’s a website for Trailer Plans and much more, and it’s supported as part of Synthesis.  Read the Mechanical Elements About page for more info.