agilian-white-logo.png
Tell us about your project
  • +86 755 8285 8796
agilian-white-logo.png
Menu
Tell us about your project
  • +86 755 8285 8796

Want to know what it’s like to work with Agilian? This video and page gives a clear, step-by-step view of how we run your New Product Introduction project, from design handover through validation, pilot builds, and ramp-up to mass production.

Who you will be in contact with when working with us

Typically, a project manager will be your main point of contact. The “core team” working on your project will include these roles.

Title Project manager (PM / NPD) R&D engineers Quality project manager (QPM) Production project manager (PPM)
Responsible for... Project planning & tracking; sourcing activities Product design, prototyping Quality (checklists, inspections...) Manufacturing & testing processes
Please note, service activities are all billable on a time & materials basis.
 

Our NPI Process

Phase 1
 

Feasibility Study/Proof of Concept

The purpose is to set the design architecture, address the main risks & assumptions, and provide initial validation that the product can be made and can “do the job” as intended.

  • We typically
  • Study the Product Requirements Document (PRD) from the customer and suggest refinements & adjustments
  • Work on important decisions such as the design architecture and the selection of key components
  • Source key components and estimate related costs & lead times
  • Develop a first (‘proof of concept’) prototype, if relevant
  • Start work on industrial design, as needed
Phase 2
 

Prototyping Builds

We work on the details of the engineering design. Getting to functional prototypes, engineering resources (mechanical, electronic, firmware…). If some of the engineering is done on your side, our team can work closely with them.

  • We typically
  • Go through plan-design-prototype-test cycles
  • Source parts that support the design requirements, from suitable suppliers
  • Assemble parts into prototypes for testing, then report findings
  • Aim at verifying that most requirements documented by the customer are satisfied.
  • Take manufacturability, quality, reliability… into account, based on the needs identified in the previous phase.
Phase 3
 

Engineering Validation

The last 1-3 iterations before design freeze are focused on addressing known issues. This is a continuation of the previous phase, in a more and more focused way.

  • We typically
  • Go through plan-design-prototype-test cycles
  • Assemble parts into EVT prototypes for testing, and report findings
  • Start to work on some tooling, if needed
  • Work both on “work like” and “look like” prototypes
  • Aim at verifying that product requirements are satisfied.
  • Formal Design for Manufacturing (DFM) review
Phase 4
 

Tooling Validation

Many of our projects necessitate tooling for manufacturing at scale, for example, molds for plastic, silicone, and metal parts. The manufacturing process needs to be validated on the basis of small trials. On some projects, this is the most challenging phase.

  • We typically
  • Get molds and other tooling designed & made
  • Work on process validation through trials and sample sign off
  • Assemble and test the DVT prototypes, and pick golden samples
  • Arrange reliability tests, compliance tests & certifications, etc.
  • In parallel, define the assembly & packing process, and the inspection & testing system
Phase 5
 

Pre-Production

The manufacturing & testing processes need to run on a small scale. This way, the required improvements are made while the risks & costs are still manageable.

  • We typically
  • Prepare the fixtures & jigs needed to ensure smooth assembly and testing
  • Do at least 1 PVT pilot run, to catch issues before any large quantity is made
  • Follow up on issues and do other runs as needed
  • Validate the manufacturing & testing process before going into high-quantity production
Phase 6
 

Mass Production

This is the time when you (the customer) can start to deliver products to your customers. This structured ramp allows us to move from early batches to sustained high-volume production, gradually up to 1M+ units when the product and demand justify it.

  • We typically:
  • Order materials, manufacture in-house parts, and conduct incoming QC inspections
  • Do the assembly, testing, and packing work based on documented procedures
  • Report outgoing QC and ongoing reliability test findings to our customer
  • Ship the products out
  • Over time, work on improvements as the processes get more mature

Estimates, quotations, and payments

At the start of every phase (see above), we estimate the amount of work and other expenses (if any), and we provide a quotation.

We like to cut the work into relatively small blocks, phase by phase. There is a simple reason for this. As we complete one phase, it determines and clarifies the content of the next phase. That’s why we re-estimate the amount of work of the following phases each time we complete one phase.

Got questions about working with Agilian?

Let’s talk through your situation and requirements.

Tell me more