Engineering Prototype
Definition: The process of identifying the most appropriate and efficient materials, processes, and designs suitable for commercial production to be incorporated into the product.
Objective: The objective of the engineering prototype is to make improvements in materials, designs, and processes in the product and to verify the product will perform as specified.
Product: The product of this activity is an engineering prototype or a pilot process.
Technical Activities: During the engineering prototype step, the following activities must be completed.
Identify materials, processes, components, and manufacturing steps required to meet technical performance and specifications
Test materials, components, processes
Design and construct a pilot process or engineering prototype
Optimize the design iterations
Conduct final tests
Estimate pre-production prototype costs
Technical Information: The engineering prototype usually will result in knowledge about the product specifications, the required manufacturing process to produce the product, proof of expected reliability, and refined production cost estimates.
Assessment:
Do you have an engineering prototype of the product?
Have you identified what critical materials you will need?
Have you conducted final tests on the prototype?
Do you have a pilot production process?
Do you know how reliable the manufacturing will be?
