PROTOTYPE & TEST PHASE

Once the Detailed Design Phase is completed and the deliverable approved by you, we’ll begin the Prototype & Test Phase of the design and development effort, this is where the function and customer experience objectives are confirmed. The phase begins with ensuring that the project team has the correct resources assigned to engineer each subsystem and complete prototype creation and testing protocols to mitigate risk and minimise overall development costs. Our assigned Project Manager will document the detailed work packages by subsystem and by engineering discipline to build a detailed schedule for this phase. A phase kick-off meeting signals the formal beginning of the prototyping and testing efforts, ensuring that all team members have a full understanding of their responsibilities and of the requirements, schedule, scope and budget of the phase. As the detailed work tasks are performed our Project Manager will coordinate regular meetings with team members and key Stakeholders, and formally report on the status of your program every other week with a written Status Report keeping you informed on progress, spending and issues.

The right ‘fit for purpose’ product prototypes will then be created in the quantities required to support fit and function testing, cycle testing, user studies, market surveys and any other required purpose. We will design and build any testing fixtures or equipment needed to fully test the product prototypes to verify performance requirements are met and the customer experience objectives are fulfilled. A summary of testing results, user impressions and feedback from you, as well as other Stakeholders will be created and reviewed with you in detail. From review and refinement of this summary a list of design changes will emerge and guide the next phase of development. Standard deliverables for the Prototype & Test Phase often include:

• Product Prototypes in multiple configurations and quantities to support specific testing procedures
• User Experience Study Reports
• Test Reports
• Prototype & Test Phase Summary Report
• Summary by subsystem of design updates to be made in the next phase
• Updated Risk Assessment with mitigation and response strategies
• Updated design and development process recommendations
• Plan, budget and scope summary for the next phase

Next: Final Design Phase of Product Design

Solid Design leverages a proven process to bring new ideas to reality. Our process is a phased approach which is shown graphically below, and this will be tailored to fit the requirements specific to your product design, development and testing needs. Simply click on any of the process phases to see a detailed description of the tasks and potential deliverable of that phase.