There are many reasons why an electronics development project might run into difficulty. When a project hits the brakes not only is it frustrating, but it can also incur additional costs, be time consuming to get things moving and can impact your reputation.

Some of the main reasons a project might run into difficulty include:

• ‍Changing specification
  A lack of planning and an incorrect technical specification are the most common issues we see. Invest enough time at the start creating a detailed specification that doesn’t allow for misinterpretation.
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• Product evolution
  ‍When you hit a sticking point it’s easy to think you can resolve it through multiple iterations. But when you’re approaching market readiness those temporary fixes must be addressed.
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• ‍Falling out with a supplier
  We regularly meet with customers who have fallen out with their supplier. The cost impact of poor development can lead to disputes, and you may find yourself taking a complicated package of data to someone new to resolve.

There are also lots of technical reasons a project might run into difficulty, including poor design optimisation (not designed for manufacture), incorrect components, poor craftsmanship, lack of focus on performance tolerances and unexpected regulatory considerations.

When things start to get messy, there are some simple things we can do to get a project back on track. The first step is to carry out a full evaluation of the project and the design specification to identify the root cause. Once identified we can resolve it and take the project forward.

Whilst we are happy to get a struggling project back on track, we feel for customers who have lost time and money. There are several things that can be done from the beginning of a project to minimise future problems.

• ‍Plan
  Create a solid specification from the outset. Include as much detail as possible about how your product should look, function, and consider the parts and components needed to achieve the desired result.
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• Do not ignore risks
  Don’t assume it will all work out in the end – it won’t! Consider the risks you might come up against and put measures in place to mitigate their impact.
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• Consider the end user
  Having a thorough understanding of the person that you’re trying to reach will mean you can design and manufacture in a way that will appeal directly to them.
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• ‍Future proof your design
  ‍Consider your roadmap. Will you want different versions, configurations or will you target different markets?
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• Consider compliance requirements during design
  Your product will need to pass regulatory compliance testing. By factoring these requirements into your design, your product will stand the best chance of passing first time.
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• ‍Find a trusted development partner
  ‍Look for a company that understands your product and what you are trying to achieve. Have open, honest, two-way communication so that you can work together to negate any issues.
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• Involve manufacture early
  Your manufacturer will keep tabs on your product’s design for manufacture (DFM). This critical part of the product development cycle involves optimising the design of your product for its manufacturing and assembly process. Employing DFM tactics reduces cost and difficulty of producing a product while maintaining its quality.

The key take aways here are to invest time, money and focus from the start to save issues, failure, and large oncosts later.

If you’d like to discuss your project call 0117 244 3000 or get in touch via our Contact Us form.