In the last article, we have outlined some basics of product development. But there are still some other points you should not overlook if you plan to outsource your product development.
5. Product Development vs. Product Engineering
The terms “engineering” and “development” often get lumped together. Generally, product development is an umbrella term that covers all the steps to complete a product from the initial concept to the final product.
By comparison, product engineering is more specific. It is about building a product and figuring out how to make them efficiently by using things like CAD software.
6. Product Development vs. Product Sourcing
Product development is to create something new or improve the features or functions of previous versions.
However, product sourcing is the practice of purchasing an existing product from a manufacturing supplier and selling it to end customers.
One of the main differences between product development and product sourcing is that the former includes possession of the IP or trademarks while the latter does not. Though you can customize the product you buy from suppliers, you do not own its product IP.
Moreover, with product development, you can tailor your product to satisfy more specific customer demand for more market share, which may be unable to be achieved by simply sourcing a well-established product.
Exhibit the latest version of the iPhone can symbolize the process of product development while an iPhone case can be a good example for product sourcing.
7. How To Protect Your IP?
Intellectual Property (IP) refers to intellectual products of the mind, ranging from a novel concept of a product to its aesthetic design. For business owners who aim to stand out in the market by innovation, they should always stay on top of their IP protection, which in some cases can be an easy target of theft and fraud.
With that said, Intellectual property protection is a growing concern for entrepreneurs and businesses across all industries. If you are considering partnering with manufacturers abroad, understanding how to protect intellectual property is crucial.
To protect your IP, the first thing you need to do is get your IP registered in both the regions where you make and sell the product. To take it to the next level, a confidentiality agreement (AKA non-disclosure agreement) can add another layer of protection for your IP and patents.
8. What is the Cost of Product Development?
Before you start developing your idea, it is important to make a budget plan for making a prototype. This can vary from only a few hundred dollars to well over tens of thousands. It all depends on what you want and how long it takes. Without having an idea of what exactly your product is, there is no way to put a price on it.
There is no such thing as cheap product development, but there are ways of reducing costs without compromising quality or taking shortcuts that could affect performance down the line. For example, regarding the design process, you may build an in-house design team or partner with a third-party company. In short, the goal is to keep everything in a balance between cost, time, and quality.
9. Why Should You Consider Product Development In China?
Most of us do not want to admit it, but American manufacturing is on the decline. The rapid development in cutting-edge technology, supply chain, and high-qualified engineering training makes the country the world’s factory.
With the growing market, Chinese suppliers aspire to raise their standards to attract more overseas customers. Over the last decade, “made in China” has made the leap past the point of being “cheap” only.
Consequently, by outsourcing your product development to China, you can save thousands of dollars while being rewarded with top-notch quality.
10. Why Should You Partner With China2West?
If you are looking for an outsourcing partner in China, look no further than China2West. We are a British-owned OEM manufacturing and product development expert consultancy based in Zhuhai City, South of China.
Our product development services are provided in-house although for certain projects we will work with our affiliated partners, including:
- R&D
- Create Professional Industrial Designs
- Prototyping
- Order Product Samples
- Develop Product & Performance Standards
- Execute Sample Tooling Agreements
Our product engineer team has exceptional communication skills that relieve you from any misunderstanding and have full capacity to match your requirements
China2West empowers you to turn your concept into reality. We are your local dedicated expert who will help you through every step of the process, ensuring your product are right the first time… and on time! Whether it is putting the finishing touches to our existing hardware or engaging early in the fuzzy front end of a program, we have the experience to add velocity to a project and carry it through to ramp.
We are driven by quality and we offer customized solutions. Contact us to discuss your project today.
