Folks,
When I was doing new product development in the corporate world, my colleagues and I had abundant resources to play with. This included “IPOs” or International Procurement Offices, which were in the world’s manufacturing centers. We designed a new product in Illinois and then handed it off to the IPO team in Hong Kong, Mountainview, Stuttgart or Tokyo.
There, a team of manufacturing specialists (in every discipline imaginable), quality engineers, experts in product certification & compliance, international trade, packaging and logistics caught the turnover package and plotted a path forward for us. They analyzed the design, performed the DFMA and then transferred the project to a roster of proven suppliers. Twelve months later, the first shipment showed up on our dock. Seamless, start to finish.
We’ve built EastBridge to provide that same level and range of service to product developers, entrepreneurs and OEMs who don’t have the resources of enormous multinationals and public companies at their fingertips. Our manufacturing know-how and team of engineers stationed around the world allows our clients to confidently bridge the gap between design and manufacturing.
Our work allows them to de-risk the project, reduce costs and shorten the development cycle time. This is especially the case when we get involved early in the process when the cement is still wet.
When we do sit down early on, our experience allows us to quickly size up the project and outline the manufacturing pathway. We’re proud of our ability to see the likely order of manufacturing operations, advise on the materials set, accurately estimate tooling costs, know the best fit vendors and subcontractors and build a scalable manufacturing process. That discussion inevitably leads to the “Three Moments of Truth” in NPD. They are in this order:
- Is the product technically feasible?
- How much will it cost?
- How long will it take?
Guess which one we’re challenged on most vigorously? Big reveal: it’s not technical feasibility or price. It’s always #3, how long it will take.
And we’ve heard “You’re absolutely crazy! It couldn’t possibly take that long.” Or “What are you guys’ smoking?” And “That can’t be the case. Our timeline (or investors) said that it can’t take more than six months!”
Well… Of the three variables, time is the most inelastic. But it’s not unknowable and shouldn’t be artificially lengthened or shortened. We feel that it’s our responsibility to be honest in answering all three questions, well before we’re hired onto the project. Understanding this is empowering for our clients. So, when embarking on a new project, please let us advise on the Three Moments of Truth.
Cheers,
Jack Daniels