The absolute easiest pathway to success in America? Product sales. While not everyone is born a natural salesperson, anyone with a good idea can reap the rewards of product development. Developing and selling a product requires much more than a flashy smile and a quick pitch; it takes a unique vision and a strong product offering. First comes the strategic design, this is by far the most important step. Once the design is complete, it’s on to production. Entrepreneurs looking to enter the marketplace should complete a few product test runs before rushing to full-scale production. Producing at a low volume allows the product to be stress tested and for sales pitches to be practiced.
How does it work? Let’s follow along with this example scenario. An entrepreneur designs a seat for a self driving car, focusing on upgraded comfort and longevity. Using a computer program to finalize the details, the entrepreneur then send the mockup to the production company. The producer receives the design, inputs the specifications into their machinery and the computer works it’s magic. Before any sort of true plastic or metal production is started, the production company will make a foam mold of the product. With the mold, they’ll be able to fine-tune the computer’s calculations and check for any errors. After the producer gives the all-clear, the company can start low volume production to enable real world test use.
The time from design to production has been expedited by the relatively recent implementation of additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is used to quickly develop product prototypes. The production company uses software to design an in-depth model of the product, and from there machinery prints a three-dimensional product, which can be finished with several materials and different colors. This highly accurate process means parts can be produced with relatively few errors, and the errors that do occur are easily remedied. The rapid prototyping and fabrication of parts by additive manufacturing means top producers move from design to production more quickly than ever before.
The most important factor in implementing a design is real life use. Products should be tested to their limits–even nearly destroyed–before they hit the market. If the material is plastic, there are quite a few different tests to complete. What kind of temperature range does the material endure? Metal, especially aluminum, should be proven to resist bending. What about rust or water damage? Every single factor must be considered before the real sales start up. Once the lines have been drawn, then it’s almost time for real production.
Before the new seat design is brought to full production, a few real life prototypes should be manufactured. Once the design team has their hands on a real life product, the sales team can easily take over. With the new prototypes, they can head out on the road to car manufacturers and get those products sold! Even if the first orders are for low volume, there’s no problem. The manufacturer can keep production at low volume until the big numbers arrive.
Success is never out of reach for the business-minded. With the right product idea, it’s easier than ever to bring a product to market! Go back a few decades, and you’ll see how difficult the process of product development truly was. The entire game has changed;1 it’s much easier to find success. A strong sales team of just a few good partners can take a dream–and turn it into a reality. With the advent of low volume production, anyone with a bit of ingenuity and entrepreneurial drive can find success.
