Prototype to Production: 7 Sneaky Pitfalls to Avoid
Update: 2025-09-05
Description
In episode 290 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Renaud Anjoran is back and joins Adrian to explore seven common pitfalls that can derail manufacturing projects during the critical transition from prototype to production.
A working prototype may look and feel like the final product, but moving from prototype to mass production is a far more complex journey than most teams expect.
From premature tooling to unreliable crowdfunding campaigns, missing test plans, and skipped pilot runs, these mistakes can cost enormous time, money, and credibility if not handled correctly.
Episode Sections:
- 01:19 – Why moving from prototype to production is more complex than expected
- 04:26 – The analogy of the factory as “a big 3D printer” and why it’s wrong
- 05:42 – Preview of 7 pitfalls discussed in this episode
- 05:56 – Pitfall #1: Confirming a product design that isn’t ready for mass manufacturing
- 10:02 – Pitfall #2: Going for tooling before the product design is frozen
- 13:40 – Pitfall #3: Running a Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaign too early
- 19:33 – Pitfall #4: Crowdfunding with no margin (and the debt it creates)
- 23:30 – Pitfall #5: Not preparing a test plan for performance and reliability
- 27:29 – Pitfall #6: Skipping pilot runs before mass production
- 30:07 – Pitfall #7: Failing to have the manufacturer sign a development/manufacturing contract
- 36:01 – Recap of all 7 pitfalls and final thoughts
Related content...
- The New Product Introduction Process Guide
- Product Tooling: Possible To Avoid Paying for it in Full?
- Crowdfunding Failures: 4 Great Prototypes That Failed To Launch
- Prototype, Patent, then Market: A Misguided Concept
- Avoid Sending Immature Product Designs to a Chinese Manufacturer!
- How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
- Why A Pilot Run On A New Product, Before Mass Production, Is Very Helpful
- How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP
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