{"id":15396,"date":"2020-02-04T07:31:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T13:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cadcrowd.com\/blog\/?p=15396"},"modified":"2020-02-04T08:10:36","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T14:10:36","slug":"how-do-prototype-iterations-help-firms-improve-new-product-design-development-for-mass-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cadcrowd.com\/blog\/how-do-prototype-iterations-help-firms-improve-new-product-design-development-for-mass-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Prototype Iterations Help Firms Improve New Product Design & Development for Mass Manufacturing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Iterative design is a tool that goes hand-in-hand with rapid prototyping, but it is very valuable in its own right. The primary goal of iterative design is to create the best product possible with the most ideal function and the fewest number of imperfections and inefficiencies. Rapid prototyping services<\/a> tend to be used alongside it as a way to evaluate new designs and changes as quickly as possible. <\/p>

Utilizing iterative design as a strategy makes sense in many cases, especially when the focus is on long-term quality. Due to the possible number of iterations that a design may go through, the process may take longer than some other strategies. However, it is ultimately a cost-efficient shortcut to a high-quality final design.<\/p>

What Is Iterative Design and How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/h2>

The process of an iterative\ndesign essentially has three basic steps that are repeated in a cyclical\nfashion until a satisfactory result has been achieved. Let\u2019s begin by examining\neach step first. <\/p>

Design<\/h3>
\"Robot-design-by-oMarkhaled2020\"<\/figure>

Typically, the cycle\nbegins at the design stage. This is the initial concept. An idea has led to a\ndesign for a new product. The quality of this first design is not critically\nimportant because of the other steps in the process. It merely serves as a\nstarting point regardless of how similar or different it is to the eventual\nresult. <\/p>

Prototyping<\/h3>

Of course, once a design has been created, it needs to be tested. There are only so many aspects of a product that can be observed accurately without a physical model. This is where prototyping comes in. Preferences tend to vary when it comes to prototyping<\/a>. Rapid prototyping offers plenty of advantages, but other methods have unique benefits as well. <\/p>

Some prefer the more\ntraditional three prototype method, which generally involves proof of concept\nmodel, a functional model, and a beta model. In either case, prototypes will be\ncreated multiple times. <\/p>

Evaluation<\/h3>

The evaluation stage is where the new prototype or prototypes are examined very carefully. Assuming that the concept has already been proven, everything else about the prototype is dissected. What could be different? What could be better? Does something need to be added or removed? Is it free of hazards that could harm the end-user? All of these questions and more are useful at this stage. <\/p>

Repeat<\/h3>

After an initial cycle of CAD design<\/a>, prototyping, and evaluating, it\u2019s time to take the observations from the evaluation stage and return to the design stage. Changes are made to the design, which leads to new prototypes, and these new prototypes need their evaluations. <\/p>

The cycle of designing,\nprototyping, and evaluation is often repeated several times. Each cycle results\nin a prototype that is better than the one that came before it. It is not\nuncommon to see this cycle repeated three or more times before production moves\nforward. There is always room for improvement in the design of a new product,\nbut typically a few iterations are sufficient. <\/p>

Benefits <\/strong>of Iterative Design<\/h2>
\"Coffee-press-by-Design-Assist\"<\/figure>

The main goal of iterative\ndesign is to produce the best product possible. This kind of thinking brings\nnumerous benefits to businesses that take advantage of it. <\/p>

1. Final Product <\/strong>Quality<\/h3>

For example, let\u2019s say Company A is using an iterative design process for its newest product. Their focus is on creating a top-quality product that functions as expected time and time again. <\/p>

The iterative 3D modeling design<\/a> process may be more costly for Company A during the early stages, but they will ultimately begin full production with a product they can be satisfied with and will likely avoid expensive and disruptive revisions that need to be implemented after the product is already in full production. They\u2019re spending a little more on design and prototyping to avoid far more costly problems later. This benefit alone is tremendous for small and large businesses alike. <\/p>

2. Damage Control and Reputation Management<\/strong><\/h3>

Since a large portion of\nthe iterative design process is focused on finding and eliminating problems and\nundesirable qualities in prototypes, it leaves less room for error in the final\nproduct. Businesses that utilize the iterative process are more likely to find\nflaws themselves while they can still control and correct the situation. <\/p>

Compared to the alternatives which could be something along the lines of angry customers, loss of market share, or even a product recall, it\u2019s worth the effort to root out the maximum number of imperfections as early as possible. Especially in the case of consumer product design<\/a>, social media is more significant than ever, and bad news travels fast. It\u2019s tough to put a number on the value of your business\u2019s reputation, but nobody wants to see that theoretical figure decrease. <\/p>

3. Avoiding Costly Mistakes<\/strong><\/h3>

This was touched on briefly as part of benefit one, but it\u2019s certainly worth considering on its own. Let\u2019s use large scale production of an intricate product for skilled trade workers as an example. It\u2019s safe to assume that such a product would be made from high quality machined components, maybe some stamped parts from progressive dies, and perhaps a few molded plastic pieces for comfort, aesthetics, or function. <\/p>

Now, the production of the machined components may or may not require special tooling or fixtures. The progressive dies would be designed for the exact components of the product by a product design service<\/a>, and the molds would be as well. If you\u2019re familiar with typical rates for machining or specialty tool and die work, then you already know just how quickly the initial costs of these production necessities add up. <\/p>

Paying for die components, molds, and specialty fixtures once is plenty. Now imagine that all of these necessities are created for a design that is found to be lacking and needs to be replaced with an entirely new design. All of those necessities need to be created again. <\/p>

The die components, the molds, the fixtures\u2014new versions of each are needed. This can easily cost somewhere in the five-figure range or more depending on complexity and quantities. By utilizing the iterative design process, costly mistakes like these can be minimized or even avoided altogether. <\/p>

Tips for an Iterative Approach<\/strong><\/h2>
\"Window-cleaning-robot-by-supra77\"<\/figure>

The concept is simple, but\nthere are plenty of small steps that come together to form the complete\nprocess. The number one tip to ensure the success of an iterative approach to a\nnew design is to pick the right engineer or designer for the job. Their level\nof skill is essential, but perspective is also critical with this process. On\nthe subject of perspective, patience is required, but so is a desire to see the\nproject completed in a timely fashion. <\/p>

Iterative Design Questions and Answers<\/strong><\/h2>

1. How Many Iterations are Necessary for a High-Quality Final Product?<\/strong><\/p>

There isn\u2019t a single, one\nsize fits all answer to this question. Some designs are quite impressive and\nhave little room for improvement from the start. However, this is rare, and\nmost designs benefit from several iterations. Just as a rough number, expect to\ngo through at least three iterations. Three to five iterations are common with\nnew designs. As the process goes on, remember to recognize when good enough is\nactually good enough to avoid needlessly chasing perfection. <\/p>

2. Isn\u2019t Iterative Design for Products like Software?<\/strong><\/p>

Iterative design is a\nprocess, just a series of steps. It is widely used for things like software,\nbut it is very valuable for physical products. New products always have room\nfor improvement over the initial design. The iterative design process provides\na logical series of steps for identifying and making those improvements. In\nshort, iterative design is used for a wide variety of products. <\/p>

3. Are Iterative Design Services Expensive?<\/strong><\/p>

This is a matter of\nperspective. Is it possible that the iterative process may cost more during the\ndevelopment stage of a new product? Yes, it\u2019s possible it may be more costly on\nthe front end. It\u2019s also likely that it will result in large savings once the\ndesign is put into full-scale production as opposed to skipping this kind of\ndevelopment. The savings are likely to be found in the form of both time and\nmoney.  <\/p>

Definitions<\/strong><\/h2>