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?

Return to The Goldsmith Commercialization Model

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