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Written by Meetul Kinarivala
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First stage of product development is technical research. Depending on the complexity of product, technical research involves several tasks outlined below. An accurate and complete technical research plays a pivotal role in successful development. Depending on its comprehensiveness, technical research may constitute up to 50% of the project work. During this phase we work closely with client and his interaction and involvement becomes important. Mansi Engineering recommends a 100% technical research, however depending on the budget at hand, even few of the following tasks can be chosen.
Tasks of Technical Research
1. Study of functions and features of competitor's product
Here a few pieces of a competitor’s product are purchased and put to everyday use. Its functions and features are analyzed and micro-detailed. An attempt to analyze hidden functions is made and detailed. Pros and cons of the equipment are detailed and a well thought out report for improving upon the product is generated.
- Micro-detailing functions and features
- Detailing pros and cons
2. Ripping apart competitor's product
This might sound a bit unethical but hey, lets be real! Never underestimate your competitor. If you think you’re smart, there’s always somebody smarter. Therefore practical reasoning calls for this ripping. The product is opened up and inspected in detail. Pictures are taken and report is generated on the construction and a list of electronic hardware used is built. Attempts are then made to estimate the parts cost by interacting with appropriate vendors. A full cost report is generated. At the same time, detailing of software components is performed.
- Detailing construction
- Detailing hardware parts
- Detailing software components
- Estimation of parts costs by vendor interaction
3. Studying competitor's patents
While designing a product, it is important to study what existing patents could come in way. Patents are claimed not only on the design aspect of a product but also on the application aspect. If a competitor claims patents on a product it becomes more of a compulsion than an option to analyze it and determine what claims could come in way.
- Detailing patents and compliance requirements
4. Detailing and proposing features and functions
This step must be performed at first by engineer who has not already seen competitor’s product. That way the detailing of features and functions evolve ingeniously and independently. It is only after the proposed features and functions being detailed, that a comparison with competitor’s product is made for further refinement. This fosters an independent thinking process and a fresh evolution of the concept at hand.
- Analyzing functions from user view point
- Micro-detailing of features and functions
5. Detailing block diagram
A block diagram serves as a starting point for technical implementation. It should be as detailed as possible closely resembling the circuit sections, shareable among team engineers and easily understandable. As the block diagram evolves, a very clear picture of the technical implementation is formed and this forms a basis of parts selection and development cost estimation.
6. Sketches and Interface Design
This lays groundwork for the product shape, outlook and user interface. This also decides on the moulds and machined parts required to bring the product casing and interface to life. An example interface is designed and shown below:
7. Identifying required technical standards
While it may not be necessary to purchase all standards, it is required to identify them. For example, it is only using such standards that third party software stacks are written and therefore identification is important before purchasing any third party stack for integration.
8. Identifying certification requirements
For most countries obtaining correct certifications for a product is mandatory for selling it. For example a CE mark may be necessary to sell an electronic equipment in EU countries, whereas an FCC approval may be necessary for sale in the US. For certain kinds of equipment such as LPG automotive kits, separate safety certifications might be necessary. Such certifications have associated standards that need to be adhered to at the time of design itself. Therefore identifying certification requirements and purchasing necessary standards becomes an indispensable step before proceeding towards design. Following is an EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) certificate of a product cleared to be exported to EU countries:
9. Identifying technology options and licensing requirements
It is important to identify hardware and software technology options at an early stage, so that a rational decision could be made from the point of view of quality and purchase or licensing costs.
- Identifying hardware options
- Identifying software components options
- Identifying costs
10. Selecting most suitable technology
The selection based on a rational tradeoff between costs, licensing requirements and features offered.
11. Identifying parts and approximate product cost
Once a suitable suite of technology has been selected and a block diagram is in place, actual parts need to be identified to proceed with the design. Part selection is based on features demanded by the application on hand and costs involved. This stage requires interaction with vendors who provide costs on which the selection may be based. A prospective and tentative bill of material is created at this point.
- Interaction with vendors for procuring costs
- Creating a prospective Bill of Material.
12. Detailing final technical specification
This is a Holy Grail document that comes together in bits, micro-detailing all technical aspects of the project and is shared among team members. To fathom the kind of detail we are talking about, here is a sample technical specification of a black equipment cable that otherwise looks so simple:
Normally technical specifications are so detailed that many microscopic aspects of it “evolve” as the development is under way.
13. Identifying test requirements
The word testing is intended to mean three things:
A) Testing developed prototypes in-house
B) Testing prototypes for certification
C) Testing at the time of manufacturing
- Identifying test parameters
- Identifying test agencies, equipment and costs
- Identifying test performance targets
14. Detailing Production tooling
Tooling such as Automatic Test Equipment, Jigs and Fixtures etc. that would be necessary to produce the product are listed here, along with their costs.
- Detailing block diagram of production test benches
- Detailing mechanical tooling
15. Charting development plan with milestones, deliverables and quote
A development plan contains a list of tasks and a week-wise detailed progression chart of the same. It also contains a list of deliverables, a payment schedule and third party involvement information. A sample plan is available upon request from Mansi Engineering.
- Week-wise list of tasks
- Milestones and associated payment schedule
- Deliverable item list
- Third party involvement
- Quote
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Technical Research 
