Cable assembly prototyping is the process of creating an actual real-life model from a conceptual design to gauge its feasibility, appearance, and overall feel of the product.
Prototypes allow businesses to get an early review of a product from stakeholders, retailers, customer test groups, etc. This process gives the company valuable feedback that either leads to a product design being approved for mass production or being sent back to the drawing board to incorporate additional changes.
But how does a cable assembly design move from prototype to production?
Steps to Cable Assembly Production
Once prototyping is successful, the next step is to push the prototype to production. Let’s go through the different production stages that take cable assembly designs from prototype to production.
1. Quoting and sourcing
Once the prototype is ready, it can be sent to the manufacturer to get a detailed quote. They will also provide an estimate on time and other details that pertain to manufacturing the product.
One such detail is about the raw materials for making the product. The manufacturer will explain the costs of different materials and their availability. Sometimes, the company may require replacing certain materials due to lack of availability or higher costs.
Having an experienced manufacturer greatly benefits as they can easily procure parts even in times of shortages. Also, their team will be meticulous in creating the quote, where each detail will be mentioned and accounted for, eliminating last-minute change orders.
2. Tooling and non-production release
A non-production release stage is reached when the tooling for the product is completed, and the product can now be produced repeatedly, adhering to the design specifications.
In this step, a quality procedure (QP) is created for the product. It is a manual that describes the processes, quality requirements, and tool requirements necessary to develop the product as per the design specifications.
A non-production release is not the final product. Engineers and designers can tweak the cable assembly to make changes during this phase as any changes made beyond non-production release can get costly. Therefore, this is a critical stage where it is possible to implement final touches before mass production.
The QP document is regularly updated based on the changes made in the non-production release phase.
3. Production launch
A production launch is a stage where the cable assemblies are manufactured on a large scale. Each product is made to the specifications agreed in the non-production release.
The initial set of products is tested against the QP for quality assurance. These products are then tested to see if they can meet performance requirements.
The success of a product often depends on how fast the product can be made available to the public. With support from an experienced manufacturer, you can meet deadlines and achieve production goals more efficiently.
Selecting the Right Manufacturer to Support Your Production Goals
Choosing the right manufacturer can mean the difference between the success and failure of your product. Once the design and engineering drawings are finalized, the manufacturer will bring the concept to reality. Therefore, having a capable manufacturer by your side makes a significant difference.
JEM Electronics, Inc. is a contract manufacturer of custom cable assemblies, electro-mechanical assemblies, wire harness assemblies, and box builds. With over 25 years of experience in the field, we design and produce custom cable assemblies to meet your unique product requirements.
