How is product development different from traditional manufacturing?

Typical 3D printing manufacturers have a straightforward process: the customer requests a quote, the manufacturer submits a quote. The customer places an order, the manufacturer fulfills it. Rinse and repeat.

At Alchemy Industrial, we do more than just make parts. We partner with our customers through the entire process of product development: from fleshing out a concept and realizing what a product means to them, to creating an actual prototype, establishing a proof of concept, and scaling them for the market.

Making a Part vs. Product Development Services

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Our product development process begins with helping our client crystalize the following:

• What they care about. People always say they want a quality product, but what does that really mean? What critical elements do you have to deliver on? Does your part need to meet a certain industry standard? Be made in an environmentally sustainable way? Once we know what’s of utmost importance to you, we can develop a customized manufacturing strategy instead of mass producing for consumability.
• What they’re willing to pay for. Every project has a budget, but those resources can be allocated differently depending on your needs. For example, if you want the end product to outlast its warranty most of the time, you may need to invest in highly durable materials or more upfront research. On the other hand, if the part is single-use, your focus may be on using materials that are easily recyclable.
• Timing. What’s the timeline for bringing your product to market? Do you plan to store inventory, or do you need just in time delivery? In many cases, local distributed manufacturing can help minimize transit and shipping delays that aren’t always accounted for when considering lead times. 
• Customer journey. What experience do you want your end customer to have when using your product? Do you want your brand to become a household staple or something that they upgrade every year? We can help design the customer journey that takes you from initial product development all the way to market consumption.  

When we say we provide additive technology 4.0, we mean that we provide a holistic approach to additive manufacturing. If you’re looking for a partner who is willing to take your napkin sketch and work with you every step of the way until your product is on the market—give us a call today. We’re honored to work with you.