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Manufacturing Feasibility

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Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment: An Essential Tool for Business Founders

In business, launching a new product is simultaneously exhilarating and daunting. While innovation drives industries forward, the path to product realisation unfortunately holds many pitfalls. For business founders, our Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment is a crucial tool that can mean the difference between success and failure.

Our Process

**Preparation & Comprehensive Project Understanding**

– **Clarification of Functionality & Performance**: Collaborate to define product specification (if not complete already), understanding main functionalities and performance metrics. Understanding of current and future manufacturing volumes, any preferences regarding country of manufacture, tooling preferences and required timescales for product launch and ongoing orders.
– **Sourcing**: Consideration of current supplier base versus project requirements. Sourcing potential new suppliers to meet specific unique requirements. Signing of confidentiality agreements and supplying manufacturing specification and answering initial questions to ensure complete understanding and alignment.
– **Budget:** Understanding tooling and unit cost budgets and target costs for ongoing production of the units alongside projected volumes. Discussion around tooling price impact on ongoing unit cost and priorities for the business around this.

**Analysis & Feasibility Exploration**

– **Technical Assessment**: Investigate potential manufacturing solutions while considering standards and compliance requirements. Examine emerging processes and materials versus requirements and consider options for production of the various sub-assemblies. Engineering feedback regarding potential changes to the design to reduce unit cost or tooling going forwards. Consideration of these design changes versus the original design intent.
– **Risk Identification**: Identify possible challenges, cost implications, supply chain reliability, component constraints, and testing requirements. Evaluate gathered data, highlight pros, cons, and implications of each choice, ensuring informed decision-making. This will be completed for processes, materials, packaging, components and any sub-assemblies. Consider future QA and QC processes and ongoing impact on reducing the risk of product recalls.
– **Alternative Solutions & Overseas Considerations**: As part of the comprehensive exploration, recognise the potential of alternative manufacturing solutions, possibly in different countries. Evaluate the viability, cost-effectiveness, reliability and quality assurance capabilities of these alternatives.

**Reporting & Strategic Recommendations**

– **Comprehensive Reporting**: Offer a detailed report on product feasibility, emphasising opportunities and challenges. Highlight potential compromises and trade-offs as well as any significant outstanding risks.
– **Recommendations & Next Steps**: Based on in-depth research and analysis, provide actionable recommendations. Ball park costings for unit price and tooling and achievable timescales for production. QA and QC costs to be built into these costs along with packaging if sufficient detail of the intended packaging design can be supplied. Recommendations regarding shipping, outer cartons, palletising etc. and the likely impact on cost.
– Detailed discussion regarding manufacturing feedback, core risks, next steps, costs and manufacturing options available along with the pros and cons of each.

Informed Decision Making and Risk Mitigation

One of the primary challenges faced by business founders is navigating the uncertainties that come with launching a new product. Without data and comprehensive analysis, founders might rely on instinct or incomplete information, potentially leading to costly mistakes. It is vital, according to leading business coaches, to take emotion out of critical decision making and data is one major way to achieve this. We remain constantly surprised at how often business founded make major investment decisions based on a whim or a passion for a pet project.

The assessment doesn’t merely present data; it dissects and interprets it. By highlighting potential challenges, such as supply chain disruptions, component constraints, or cost implications, founders gain a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with their product. For instance, a founder might initially overlook the intricacies of manufacturing a component overseas due to attractive, perceived cost savings. However, the assessment could reveal hidden expenses, logistical challenges, or quality assurance issues tied to international manufacturing that more than outweigh the potential cost benefits. By understanding these factors, business founders can make informed rational decisions, circumventing pitfalls that could derail their project.

Strategic Allocation of Resources

For startups and even established businesses, resource allocation—whether it’s time, money, or manpower—is crucial. Spreading resources too thin or investing heavily in a non-viable aspect of a product can lead to inefficiencies or, worse, product failure.

The Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment, with its comprehensive cost estimation and technical exploration, provides founders with a clear blueprint of where to channel their resources. Consider a founder aiming to integrate a cutting-edge technology into their product, thinking it’s the key to outperforming competitors. The assessment might reveal that while the technology is promising, its current market readiness or compatibility with other components could hinder the product’s overall performance or increase its price point.

By distinguishing between ‘must-have’ and ‘nice-to-have’ features, founders can prioritise essential components that align with their product’s core value proposition. For example, if the assessment identifies that a product’s primary selling point is its durability rather than a high-tech feature, founders can allocate more resources to source robust materials and conduct durability tests. Such insights ensure that founders strategically utilise resources, maximising returns on investment and enhancing product market fit.

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Building Brand Value Through Quality Assurance

A brand’s value doesn’t solely rest on its logo, marketing, or vision—it’s also affected by the quality and reliability of its products. As a business founder, ensuring that the product meets market standards is non-negotiable. Any oversight in quality can lead to negative reviews, product recalls, or even legal ramifications, all of which can erode brand trust or worse ruin the business entirely (we’ve seen it happen, unfortunately).

The Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment is pivotal in this aspect. It’s not just about determining if a product can be made, but also about ensuring it can be made right. The assessment delves deep into quality control and assurance aspects, evaluating the capabilities of potential manufacturers and what is achievable within sensible cost limitations. This work gives founders insights into their potential partner’s commitment to quality and the necessary compromises they might be making.

For instance, a founder aiming to produce eco-friendly kitchenware might prioritise biodegradable materials. The assessment can identify manufacturers who not only source these materials but also have stringent quality checks to ensure the end product is both sustainable and durable. Cost is obviously a key consideration and also key requirements such as consistency of surface finish and the ability to use the final product in the dishwasher. In this case partial virgin material and partial recycled may well be a better alternative and this assessment can look into that in detail. Such insights empower founders to collaborate with partners who align with their brand’s values, ensuring the product resonates with their target audience and stands the test of time.

D2M have been amazing. They took a basic design and held my hand through the process of concept, prototyping, intellectual property, factory sourcing and final production. I would recommend them to anyone looking to develop a product.
5/5
Frank Harrington

FAQs

What is Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment?

A Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation process designed to determine the viability of manufacturing a particular product. It delves into technicalities, cost implications, quality assurance measures, materials, likely processes and potential risks, ensuring that you can make informed decisions about the product’s production before committing to the expenses of significant product development.

This assessment acts as a roadmap, guiding you through potential pitfalls and challenges in the manufacturing process. By understanding the risks, costs, and technical challenges upfront, you can take the right decisions that may well then save time, money, and resources while ensuring that the final product aligns with your vision and market expectations.

Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment pinpoints potential risks in product development and production. Key risks include design flaws that could complicate manufacturing or increase costs. Supply chain vulnerabilities, like reliance on a single component source or potential disruptions, are brought to the forefront. Difficulties with adhering to necessary compliance, industry standards and regulations can be flagged, preventing potential setbacks.

Production bottlenecks, capacity limitations, or inefficiencies that might delay product launch are identified. Additionally, the assessment evaluates the potential challenges of overseas manufacturing, considering factors like quality control, shipping logistics, and geopolitical concerns. By identifying these risks early, founders can make informed decisions, ensuring smoother product launches and better financial outcomes.

Our Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment (MFA) is a critical tool for business founders and entrepreneurs offering crucial insights into product viability and likely manufacturing challenges. The assessment can unveil potential design flaws, financial implications, and supply chain risks.

It aids in strategic decision-making, from selecting optimal manufacturing options to navigating overseas production. Furthermore, risks such as unforeseen cost escalations, supply chain disruptions, non-compliance with industry standards, and potential production bottlenecks can be identified early on. This proactive approach ensures better resource optimisation, timely product launches, and boosts investor confidence.

Our Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment (MFA) is a critical tool for business founders and entrepreneurs offering crucial insights into product viability and likely manufacturing challenges. The assessment can unveil potential design flaws, financial implications, and supply chain risks.

It aids in strategic decision-making, from selecting optimal manufacturing options to navigating overseas production. Furthermore, risks such as unforeseen cost escalations, supply chain disruptions, non-compliance with industry standards, and potential production bottlenecks can be identified early on. This proactive approach ensures better resource optimisation, timely product launches, and boosts investor confidence.

Overview of Manufacturing Feasibility

Why Is This Service Critical?

1. Navigating Uncertainties: No founder wants to invest time, energy, and financial resources into a product, only to find out later that its manufacturing is riddled with unforeseen challenges. The process commences with a thorough “Preparation & Comprehensive Project Understanding” phase. Here, every facet of the product is dissected, from its core functionalities to the finer details of manufacturing preferences. By establishing clear product specifications, understanding desired performance metrics, and projecting manufacturing volumes, this service offers a roadmap tailored to the founder’s vision. Furthermore, by considering current suppliers and potentially sourcing new ones that align with unique project requirements, founders can be assured that their product is in capable hands before they commit to significant further development and tooling costs.

2. Informed Decision-making: Every decision in the product development journey has consequences, and making uninformed choices can lead to costly repercussions. The “Analysis & Feasibility Exploration” phase of the service safeguards founders from potential errors. Through rigorous technical assessments, the service provides a realistic snapshot of the manufacturing issues, highlighting compliance requirements, exploring emerging materials and processes, and providing invaluable engineering feedback. The risk identification aspect is invaluable, spotlighting potential challenges like supply chain disruptions, cost implications, and more. By also evaluating alternative manufacturing solutions, possibly in different countries, founders can make strategic decisions based on comprehensive insights.

3. Ensuring Quality and Brand Value: A product’s quality directly impacts brand perception. A product recall or negative reviews due to quality lapses can damage a brand’s reputation. By considering future QA and QC processes and understanding their impact on reducing risks, the feasibility assessment fortifies a product’s reliability quotient. Exploring packaging options, understanding QA and QC costs, and ensuring these costs are integrated into overall expenses further ensure that the product meets market expectations.

Commissioning the Service: A Smart Choice

The final “Reporting & Strategic Recommendations” phase is where the entire assessment culminates into actionable insights. It provides a roadmap of where to go next. With a detailed report highlighting opportunities, challenges, potential trade-offs, and risks, founders are armed with all the information they need to navigate their product journey. The actionable recommendations provided, from unit price estimates to production timelines, ensure founders can plan effectively.

In conclusion, for business founders poised on the brink of product development, the Manufacturing Feasibility Assessment is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity. It offers a holistic view of the product’s journey, from ideation to realisation. By highlighting potential challenges, offering solutions, and providing an initial view of likely costs, it ensures founders can confidently bring their vision to life. Every business founder aspires for their product to succeed in the market. Commissioning this service is a pivotal step in turning that aspiration into reality.

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