First Stage - Define Product Characteristics and Goals

• Concept Development
  Identify goals.  Begin with a general idea and make it specific.

• Concept Drawings. 
  Informal drawings for discussions.  

• Market Survey.  
  Learn what the target market thinks.  We go into the field and ask questions. It's important to do this as early as possible to save money and keep the project on track.  To see a sample survey sheet click here. We believe in surveying the target market at each stage of the development process.
  more...

Second Stage - Create and Test Prototypes

• Prototypes. 
  Many different prototypes will be built during the development process.  Some will be for aesthetics.  Others will confirm performance aspects.  The final prototype is a working model that enables end users to experience the product in a form very similar to its final design.  Final engineering drawings will conform to this prototype.
  more...   top

Third Stage - Identify Manufacturing Sources, Obtain Quotes

• Engineering Drawings.
  In a reversion to design practices of the pre-electronic era, WorkTools generally builds a final prototype first and then creates engineering drawings to support it.  The benefits of this practice are: 1) the design is more fluid - it's easier to evaluate and change a prototype on the fly when not constrained by drawings and, 2) software often imposes design constraints - complex ergonomic curves are easy to carve by hand but difficult to draw (and feel) on a computer.

• Identify Manufacturing Sources, Get Quotes.
  WorkTools works with excellent manufacturers in the US and Asia. 
  more...    top

Fourth Stage - Production

• Freeze the  Design.
  There is always something more to do, another feature to add.  Launch schedules and budget conflict with attaining perfection.  We work with a client to help decide when the product is "good enough" and ready for manufacturing.

• Pilot Production.
  We work with manufacturers to smooth out initial bumps in  production and assist in developing a test plan for quality assurance.

• Field Tests.
  Put some samples in the field to confirm real-world performance
  more...   top

Commercial Introduction

• Roll-Out.
  WorkTools has excellent channels for distributing products in consumer markets.  We'll be pleased to introduce your product to our partners.

• Improvements.
  Even before the product hits the streets we'll have new ideas for improvements in future versions.  We coordinate between clients and suppliers to implement design improvements at points in time when tooling changes and upgrades are taking place.  Coordinating improvements with natural breaks in manufacturing cycles can significantly reduce costs.

• For information on WorkTools' Product Development Services contact: 
  Mike Marks Tel: 508-255-5227

Top    Services    Company