Are you looking for a way to bring your product idea to life? Have you ever wondered what goes into things like beer can packaging and product manufacturing? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about how to manufacture a product.
Doing so can help you understand the business side of the process. Despite what you might think, it’s easier than ever for anyone to create a product, regardless of your background.
See below for an in-depth guide on how to manufacture a product and turn your idea into a profit-generating product that solves a problem for your market!
1. Gather Your Thoughts
Research has shown that the human brain averages thoughts per day, some of those thoughts are bound to be business ideas, product ideas, and so forth.
While you may have several ideas for products in your head, it’s one thing to have them, it’s entirely different to flesh them out. Start by writing down your ideas on a piece of paper. You can start by jotting down these questions and answering them to gain some direction:
- What is the product idea you have?
- Who would this help?
- What problems can this product solve for people?
- Is it similar to any products out there currently? How is this product better than those?
- What is the name of this product? Side note: you can always change this
- What materials would it be made of?
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they’ll have to figure out how to create the product from scratch. As long as you have an idea, it can be brought to life by hiring a contract manufacturer.
Fleshing out your product will help turn it into a reality. Once you have a firm idea for the product, the focus shifts to finding the right manufacturer for it.
2. Perform Online Research
You’ve now turned your product into a reality, but you haven’t accomplished anything yet! Before you go looking for a manufacturer, there are two types of online research you need to perform: market research and operations research.
Market research will help you understand the competition that’s out there for your product. No product enters the market without other brands, companies, and products to go up against; take the time to understand your market through SWOT analysis.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a SWOT analysis is used to determine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the market you’re wanting to enter. Some markets are already too crowded. That said, as long as you can differentiate your product, people will eventually see the value.
Next, do some operations research. Here are some questions to help you get started.
- What would it take for you to turn this product into a full-fledged business?
- How will the business make money off this product?
- How much will the product cost to manufacture?
- What will you do to reach your target customers?
- How much will the business cost operate?
- What will it take to get things off the ground and “make a splash” in the market?
3. Cross Your Ts and Dot Your Is
Before you look into the right manufacturer, it’s important to get things moving in the right direction.
First, make sure that you have all your documentation taken care of. This could include things like a non-disclosure agreement which helps prevent other companies from taking your product idea and copying it.
You don’t have to be an expert at intellectual property law to protect your product idea. Just find a trusty IP lawyer to help you get things in order. They will help you understand the process, what setbacks you might face, and how you can benefit most from your idea.
For example, receiving a patent for your idea won’t just deter people from copying your idea, it will also help you benefit financially when someone else uses that concept in their design.
4. Have a Prototype Created
You’ve put in all of this work to turn your product idea into a potential point of revenue; now it’s time to turn it into a physical item.
If you’re handy enough, you can consider creating a prototype yourself. This might not be possible for some of your designs, in which case you could hire a professional prototype developer or engineer.
Prototypes are an important part of the process because they help generate interest. They can help you make connections with customers, get valuable feedback from your target market, gather funding for the product, understand user errors early on, and so forth.
5. Find the Right Manufacturer
Just to be clear, hiring a manufacturer might not be the best option for everyone. For example, a brewery could invest in an automatic case packer and boost its ability to keep up with demand.
That said, most products (especially starting) will want to find a manufacturer. Look for someone that helps you stay in control. You might also want to visit the site (if it’s domestic) to learn more about their processes and see if they align with your brand.
Then there is the decision of whether to produce overseas or domestically. Keep in mind that any decision you make has its advantages and disadvantages; it’s all about finding the right fit.
How to Manufacture a Product: Bring Your Creation to Life
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to manufacture a product the right way, be sure to use this information to your advantage.
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