Product Development
Product Specification Phase - What it is supposed to do
The customer defines the input power, how the product is to perform and its electrical and mechanical interface. Performance is typically expressed in torque at a rated speed, or in the case of a generator, voltage and current at a rated speed. The mechanical interface would constitute the mounting, shaft configuration, and overall size limits. Environmental considerations would be listed. The electrical interface defines the connection means for the signal and power. A rough cost estimate can be made based upon material costs, and similar processes perfected at Windings. A price estimate can often be made for the NRE, prototypes, and production.
Design Specification Phase - How it is made
This phase converts the customer’s product specification into documentation that defines the construction of the product. Computer simulations, design engineering calculations, drawings, vendor quotations, and concept test/verifications are some of the activities performed in this phase. The customer is part of the team in making the best design tradeoffs between performance, cost, DFM, and reliability. Windings has an established vendor base for purchased parts that will eliminate the time consuming process of finding and selecting qualified vendors. The prototype price can be derived. The documentation provided in this phase allows another, more accurate, cost estimate of the production unit price.
Prototype phase - First units, proof of design
A small number, (usually less than ten) are made with temporary or low volume tooling (where possible). The tooling may not be efficient, but must produce units representative of production. Often a significant portion of the tooling is applicable to the volume production phase. These units are tested in the final product, and/or in a laboratory per the product specification. Another production unit price is derived.
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