A lot of our greatest ideas and dreams are crushed by the reality that some things just aren’t possible without the backing of a large business. When it comes to manufacturing your own product, this is exactly the problem you’ll find.
Companies will invest millions into getting a product to market. So, how is it possible for you to start working on your own projects? Well, with some clever purchases and decisions, it’s not too hard. This post will go through some of the considerations you need to make before going into manufacture.
- Tools and equipment
Depending on your product, it might be possible to have the whole manufacturing process at home. With technology getting cheaper and more accessible, it’s possible to have your own factory at home. You just need to get the right tools and machinery.
The tools that you need will depend on the product that you want to make. If your product has plastic pieces, 3D printers and vacuum molders can be obtained at an affordable price. Or, if you need to work with metals, a CNC machine can be found nice and easily. You can also look into building these machines yourself if you have some mechanical skill.
Other tools, like laser cutters and pillar drills, can be used on most materials and can be found very cheaply. Make sure that the tools you buy are appropriate for your business. Also, be aware that some products can be made using the same tools. So, to save money, you can compromise on parts and make them using the same device.
Try and source your equipment from a company that is based in your country. Otherwise, it will hard to get support, and the product will take a long time to get to you. Also, look into the spare parts that can be bought for the tools you choose. It’s usually cheaper to repair something than replacing it. You may have to supply some of the parts from other manufacturers. Ball bearings and other parts are hard to make. So, you’ll need ball bearing suppliers to help you.
- Outsourcing
If you can’t afford expensive machinery, your best bet is to outsource the work. It’s usually much cheaper to have your products made in a country like China. They have fewer rules and laws in place, making the whole experience much easier.
If you need to prototype your product, it’s best to use a company that is local. When the product is being developed, you’ll want to be able to make small and regular changes to it. If you use a company that you can go and visit, this will be much easier. Whoever is making your product for you should be easy to contact and communicate with. It will make your life much harder if you can only talk to someone for one hour a day, in broken English.
This is a big step for any business to make. Especially when it comes to making large or electrical products. But, hopefully, this post will help you to get started on your dream. Usually, the only thing holding you back here will be the time that you put into it. Tools are cheap, and investments are easy to find if you have a good product designed and ready to go.
Image credit: Zephyris
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