Production methods

✅ Why this step turns design into a repeatable, scalable reality

Your product is ready—but how will it actually be built?

Production methods define how your parts are manufactured, what processes are used, and where they happen. This step ensures consistency, efficiency, and quality—while balancing cost, tooling, and supplier capability. It’s the foundation for reliable scaling.

📘 What you’ll define

  • The selected production process for each part or subassembly (e.g. injection moulding, CNC, 3D print, casting, forming)
  • The sequence and location of manufacturing steps
  • Process constraints like tolerances, finishes, batch sizes, and lead times
  • The suppliers, machines, and tools required for each method

🛠️ Tools and methods

  • Production Method Matrix

    Match each part to its material, volume, process, and supplier.

  • Make vs. Buy Review

    Decide what is outsourced, in-house, or standard off-the-shelf.

  • Process Flow Diagram

    Map the steps from raw material to final packaging.

  • Risk & Constraint Table

    Note where lead times, tooling, tolerances, or complexity may introduce risk.

  • Pilot Run Feasibility Test

    Validate that your production method works for small-scale batches.

⚠️ Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing based on price alone. Fast and cheap may compromise quality or scale.
  • Mismatch between design and method. Some parts may need rework to suit the process.
  • Ignoring supplier capability. A good design means nothing if your supplier can’t deliver.
  • No fallback options. Always have a second method or vendor ready if needed.

💡 On-the-ground learning

“We chose die casting for cost—but the surface finish didn’t meet our aesthetic. A switch to CNC for one part gave us the balance we needed.”

– Manufacturing Lead, Premium Audio Devices

💡 Don’t commit a design to tooling until you’ve confirmed the method and the supplier can meet your goals.

🔗 Helpful links & resources

✍️ Quick self-check

  • Do we have a defined process for each part and assembly?
  • Have we confirmed that design features match process capabilities?
  • Are key risks—tooling time, lead time, yield—identified?
  • Have we validated small-run production before scaling?

🎨 Visual concept (optional)

Illustration: A flowchart showing the path from raw material to finished part. Branches include “Moulded in China”, “Machined locally”, and “Assembled in-house”. Each stage is marked with process icons, supplier names, and risk flags.

Visual shows how clearly defined production methods reduce confusion and improve scale-readiness across engineering and operations.
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