Sigma Design is a one-stop shop for product engineering and design services. We specialize in industrial equipment and electronic assemblies through our suite of services – available as a turnkey service or a la carte, depending on your needs. We cover all parts of project management from idea generation down to procurement and shipping.
Our suite of product development services includes:
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
COMPLEX MECHANISM & MACHINE DESIGN
STRESS ANALYSIS
FLOW ANALYSIS
HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS
GEOMETRIC TOLERANCES
MACHINE DESIGN & CAD DRAWINGS
PATENT SUPPORT
Our team engineers new solutions and assists with those under development. Our rigorous testing methods and engineering analysis allow us to provide insights into FEA and CFD stress. Additionally, our heat transfer and flow tests help detect counter-intuitive, non-obvious design flaws.
We also create strict test protocols and conduct factory acceptance testing on every electromechanical system we make. Using our wide-ranging manufacturing expertise, Sigma Design can not only manufacture your solution but also analyze the best way to streamline its operation and efficiency.
- What Is Product Design?
- What is a Product Designer?
- What Is Product Development?
- Common Applications of Product Development
- Product Development Phases
- Product Design and Development Services From Sigma Design
What is Product Design?
By definition, product design is a multi-step process, involving the imagining, creation, and iteration of a product or service. A successful product design will relieve a specific pain point for the customer or address a market’s needs.
- Customer’s Goal
Understanding the customer is the focal point for successful product design. Empathizing with the customer and understanding their problems empowers product designers to create a successful product. Key things to know about the target customer include habits, frustrations, behaviors, wants, and needs.
- Design & Manufacturing
While the goal is to provide simplicity to the user, the actual design and manufacturing of the product is rarely simple. This is especially true when creating customized industrial products. Process design and system design must work together behind the scenes to deliver exactly what the customer needs for their application. Even after delivering the product, the designer may still be at work, continuing to enhance the product by providing supplemental capabilities or features as needed
The specific steps of the product design process can vary widely from project to project. Ultimately, product design is about combining the needs of customers while achieving long-term business goals.
Learn More About Us
What is a Product Designer?
Designers of custom industrial products first learn everything they can about the customer’s goals. They seek to solve the client’s specific problem in the most effective and cost-efficient way possible. Product designers work with engineers to determine all necessary components the product will require throughout the production process.
What Is Product Development?
Most custom industrial products involve creating a completely new product. Sometimes referred to as product management, product development involves a series of steps:
From a business perspective, the goal of product development is to maintain or increase the company’s market share by fulfilling the demands of customers. From the consumer’s perspective, successful product development delivers a valuable good or service. With custom industrial product development, it’s crucial to address the exact concerns of customers.
Learn More About Us
Common Applications of Product Development
At Sigma, we specialize in industrial equipment, machinery, and electromechanical assembly. Some of our common applications include:
PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
SPECIALTY MACHINERY
CONTROLS
INDUSTRIAL APPLIANCES
TESTING SYSTEMS
ASSEMBLY LINE MACHINERY
PHARMACEUTICAL EQUIPMENT
Product Development Phases
Here are the key steps of the product development process.
Idea Generation Stage
Idea generation is the systematic and continuous search for new products or improvements to existing products. Because the ultimate goal of every product is to solve a real-world problem, identifying that market need is the first step to idea generation. This step can include surveys, conversations with prospective customers, and other user research.
CONCEPT STAGE: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
Once an idea has been generated, a client may send in the concept sketch of their product. This is returned into a 3D model to show the full design and give a better idea of the scope of the project. From this, a preliminary manufacturing quote can be determined.
Part of the consultation process involves planning the eventual manufacturing of the product. Steps include identifying critical materials needed, estimating the cost of the materials, and identifying possible manufacturing methods. Once the plan is complete, the design is reviewed with the client.
Technical Feasibility Stage
Once the scope of the project has been determined, it is important to consider the variables that could affect the eventual manufacturing of the product. Any new ideas or modifications needed are incorporated into the final design, and a detailed manufacturing drawing is created. Any industry specifications and safety issues are identified to make sure the product is compliant.
Cost is also an important factor to consider in any project. The price of production needs to be adjusted based on forecasted units sold per year. Forecasts can be obtained by sending the final manufacturing drawing to contract manufacturers to get accurate quotes on the product. If the forecasts are not high enough, certain design elements or complexities can be adjusted. Once the product has been approved, the manufacturing process and production schedule can be developed.
Prototype Development Stage
The first step in development is creating a functional prototype. This will give the final estimate of the total cost and labor needed to develop the product. Based on the feedback from the prototype, the final drawings and bill of materials can be released to the client.
Developmental & Testing Stage
To begin development, the production quantity manufacturing process must be established. This differs from the prototype manufacturing process as it is on a much larger scale, and so potential issues need to be ironed out as much as possible to ensure a smooth assembly process. Final drawings and bills of materials are also released based on feedback from the prototype stage.
Finally, a test run of the product assembly is recommended to get ahead of any issues. QA tests help establish reliability and proof of importance. Once the production schedule is finalized, instructional material and reference guides are developed for all parties. Product assembly guides and drawings are used for the workers, sales drawings are used for representatives when selling the product, and any customer assembly guides are created once the product is in the customer’s possession.
< >
Learn More About Us
Product Design and Development Services From Sigma Design
As a leading product development company, Sigma Design has over 20 years of experience designing, engineering, and manufacturing innovative products all from our facility in New Jersey. We have earned the trust of numerous globally recognized brands in various industries, including agri-technology, green energy, medical devices, culinary appliances, and industrial water and filtration systems. In total, we have delivered over 1,000 successful new product designs and systems.
As your one-stop shop when it comes to product design and development, contact us to get started today.
Did You Know?
Over 50% of most new product development projects fail. Sigma’s experienced team uses advanced engineering, simulation and rapid prototyping to successfully reduce risks and costs associated with failures.
