Blog Archives

Leardon Solutions San Diego Product Development

May 7 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Product Development | Comment

San Diego Product Development

At Leardon Solutions, we eat, breath, and sleep product development. It’s something that we’re extremely passionate about. Everyone has an innovator / entrepreneur buried within and the funnest part of our job is helping people bring that innovator / entrepreneur out by creating an environment of collaboration that combines industry experience, creative drive and thought leadership.

Since 2005, we’ve been working with the product development community within San Diego and globally. We have discovered that San Diego product development isn’t only great for innovators and entrepreneurs just starting their journey, but also has the talent to create some truly amazing startup teams especially in the areas of consumer electronics, medical device and diagnostic equipment, health and fitness, and sporting goods.

The large biotech innovators in San Diego create a high quality leadership minded talent pool perfect for the kind of teams looking to develop disruptive technologies and devices within specific niche markets.

If you’re in Southern California and ready to take the leap of faith with your product idea, We suggest that you do your research and pick a team close to home if possible. Working with a local team that you may have face to face meetings with while reviewing physical prototypes can have several advantages such as avoiding communication pitfalls and costly time delays.

Have questions about your product development journey? Contact us today, we may be able to help.

Tagged San Diego

5 Tips For Preparing Your Product For Retail

April 30 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips | Comment

Preparing Your Product For Retail

Here at Leardon solutions we pride ourselves in taking the burden of product development and manufacturing off of our clients shoulders so that they can concentrate on sales and marketing aspects of the business. If your small business or start-up is aiming at retail shelves then you’ll want to keep these 5 tips for preparing your product for retail in mind.

Design For Retail Shelves

Floor space in brick and mortar is expensive so your product + packaging must take up as little retail real estate as possible. Go to your ideal retailers and take notes on similar products and packaging. Where are they on the shelf? Do they hang, stack, ect? How durable is the packaging?

Once you have gathered sufficient information you may want to evaluate the need for a packaging specialist. Only choose reputable companies who have experience in designing packaging for the stores you are targeting.

Get To Know Your Retailers NOW

Select retail partners early and study their floor layouts, displays, product categories. You will get a better understanding of the product buying cycles by doing your research, networking and asking store managers about regional and nationwide buyer information. Prepare to ship the product to buyers and wait 4-6 weeks before hearing anything back.

Get Familiar with UPC

Each variant of a product i.e. size, color, ect.. will require a common UPC prefix # and a unique extension to that variant. Large retailers will want a business related prefix which can get costly. If you are targeting smaller retailers with just a few products then you may consider going with a broker who will essentially allow you to use their UPC codes at a lower cost. Here is a great article that quickly explains the options - http://guides.wsj.com/small-business/starting-a-business/how-to-get-upc-codes-for-your-products-2/

How Much Does It Really Cost?

Not only is it important for you to understand your true cost per unit but often retailers and potential investors may want you to disclose your true cost per unit as well. Just remember that your true cost per unit isn’t solely manufacturing costs. On top of manufacturing costs, a true cost per unit breakdown also includes shipping, packaging, UPC costs and other expenses related to getting that product created and onto shelves.

Know When To Protect Your Product

We know it’s a scary to present your unique products to retailers, but retailers see thousands of products each year which means they cannot and will not sign NDA’s before reviewing yours. If an entrepreneur or business is worried about an idea being stolen, it is recommended that they speak with a patent attorney before development of the product. People who have special designs and brands should seek out trademark attorneys. In most cases, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys are one in the same.

Last but not least you will be able to avoid costly mistakes by using a reputable product design and manufacturing firm. At Leardon Solutions, we enjoy taking the stress of development and manufacturing off of your shoulders so that you can concentrate on making money. Your success is the key to our success. Contact us today to learn more.

Tagged Packaging Products

4 Questions About Your New Product

April 2 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips | Comment

Many now famous entrepreneurs sat on their new product ideas for a long time before prototyping that idea and taking it to market. Those same entrepreneurs often say that their biggest regret is that they didn’t do it sooner citing lack of resources and information.

In today’s rapidly developing and evolving information super highway, an entrepreneur has nearly light speed access to just about any type of information needed. An argument can be made either way that the sheer abundance of data is helpful or harmful to ones cause.

Efficient entrepreneurs find ways to focus on the information they need and block out the rest. So what type of questions does an entrepreneur need to ask when exploring a new product idea further? Are there boiler plate questions to help narrow down and research information to avoid data overload and sitting on an idea vs. making it happen?

The answer is yes, and here are a few questions to start out with. If you cannot answer these basic questions, your new product idea needs more work before considering prototyping or patenting.

4 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Product

Who Is My Market?

Identifying a market means looking at every aspect of your expected customer. This includes the average age, marital status, average annual income, geographic location, purchasing habits, and behaviors. Google is fantastic for finding information related to these statistics.

What Makes My Product Different? Better / Faster / Cheaper?

Product differentiation is key to successful innovation within a market. Combined with effective marketing, these two traits can make for a long term product run on the market leaving the competition in the dust.

Does My Product Offer Value?

Value comes in many different forms but mostly comes down to price, problem and quality. Does your product fix a customer problem for the right price and is it frustration free?

Is My Product Needed Or Wanted?

A consumer purchasing decision comes down to one of two primitive mindsets. Is your product needed or wanted? Depending on the answer, may give you some insight as to when to launch your product and for how much. Needed items tend to be more recession proof, but also have lower margins and more competition. Wanted items do well in the months leading up to major holidays and just when tax refund checks start arriving in the mail.

Have questions about your new product idea? contact us today!

Tagged Product Tips

Product Development Bill Of Materials Tips

March 5 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips | Comment

Bill of Materials

We always strive to emphasize the importance of accurate and consistent documentation during the product development lifecycle. This documentation can be a lifeboat when your product development efforts break down between your development teams. One document – the bill of materials is no exception and is critical to drive profits to the bottom line.

The bill of materials is a document that tracks the costs related to materials used in the production of a product. Because the bill of materials or “B.O.M.” offers transparency into the true costs of materials, this is where profits can be made or lost and therefore it becomes a document that is critical to tracking costs and margins.

If your chosen sourcing vendor or manufacturer is not sharing an honest “B.O.M” with you, it’s time to reconsider the relationship as it will become difficult to compare costs if the quality, availability or margins on materials become an area of concern.

You can find a bill of materials template here

and learn more about the specifics here

Have questions about your bill of materials? Contact us today!

Tagged B.O.M., Bill of materials tips

Find A Product Requirements Document – Here Is A List

February 7 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Product Development | 2 Comments

If you have an idea for a great product such as a medical device, retail product for mass market or even a niche product, a great way to start is with a product requirements document.

A product requirements document or PRD will help you to fully explore your idea on paper to see if it answers the basic questions that are fundamental to building a great product that serves a practical purpose in today’s market place. A correctly executed product requirements document can provide you with the following:

1) Answers to unknowns

If you find yourself scratching your head with the unknowns of product, a PRD can help you see the idea in an organized way that helps you keep track of how particular elements of the product are connected in theory and the purpose they serve.

2) Communication

A product requirements document can help you communicate the necessary components of your product to your team members, vendors, suppliers and others.

3) Version Tracking

By keeping track of the documentation, you can be sure that all stakeholders have the correct document when the PRD needs to be referred to. If you have a large group of people that need access to the document or need to contribute to it, consider building an online Wiki.

4) Keeping on track

With multiple people involved in the process, a product runs the risk of experiencing feature creep. Sometimes this feature creep can backseat the original purpose of the product. Refer to earlier versions of the PRD to make sure that the product is still focused on the correct market(s) and resolves the right problems.

Need a Product Requirements Document Template?

We have compiled a list of paid and free templates available on the web.

How to write a PRD

http://www.inc.com/tools/product-requirements-document.html

Microsoft Docx formatted PRD

Great outline of a PRD from MIT

Need more information? Contact the Leardon Solutions team here.

The Best Medical Device Prototyping Tips

February 5 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Medical Device | Comment

There are a million ways that an individual, startup or small business can build a medical device product starting with a prototype. However, there are only a few ways to build a prototype and actually have success in getting a product to production and then market. Here are a few tips to consider when prototyping a medical device.

So what sets a medical device product apart from other similar type devices?

Well the truth is, aside from regulatory compliance, not a whole lot. The prototyping process for a medical device starts like any other device. First a problem is identified and then a person or team gathers their thoughts and has the “There’s got to be a better way” moment. Then it takes a few sleepless nights and a constant drive to want to succeed to enter the next phase which is sketching out a prototype or creating a document with the basic functional requirements of that particular product.

How do you go from an idea to a physical prototype with just a sketch or basic document?

There are a number of ways. You can take your idea to an experienced team of medical device product development specialists to help prototype the concept, DIY up your own version if you are crafty enough or seek capital by using your contacts and a great sales pitch. We discourage seeking capital until you have a well flushed out prototype. It can take a LONG time to find money in today’s economy. Do what you can with what you have and leverage your resources until you have a convincing product to show and tell.

Medical device prototypes can be designed on a computer in a 3D environment via CAD, Solidworks, or similar type programs. The right team can also build a physical prototype so that investors and others get a solid grasp of the product. Being able to present something (fully functional or not) goes a long way and also helps develop the fit, form and function of a product.

Can rapid prototyping work for your idea?

The answer is .. kind of. If you are looking to build a product that needs to be built of high quality materials and conform to exacting tolerances, rapid prototyping may not be your solution. Rapid prototyping is typically used to grasp the overall design and form of a product but leaves fit and function out of the equation to a large extent. It’s also important to note that rapid prototyping rarely lends itself to meeting the standards of designing for manufacturability.

How much will a medical device prototype cost you?

There’s no easy answer to this question. Each project and product is completely unique and while there is a product development lifecycle strategy that is closely followed to reduce costs, failures and time to market, many variables must be taken into account. Your best bet is to surround yourself with a team of people that have experience with medical device product development and have them quote the job to get a ball park figure. Avoid service providers that work only on the hourly rate.

Interested in learning more? Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Tagged medical device, prototyping, Tips

How To Speed Up Medical Device Product Development

January 31 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Medical Device | Comment

Medical device product development has a reputation of being difficult, lengthy, expensive, and out of the reach of most startups and small businesses. The reality is that product development of medical devices can be achieved by startups and small businesses. With the right product development team, medical product development costs can be significantly reduced.

Working with an end to end product development engineering firm can provide consolidated resources and reduced costs while encouraging a lean startup culture where all parties involved are looking for the best solution at the best price, quality, and time to market.

Working side by side with medical device regulatory personnel

It is important to include a medical device regulatory individual on the product development team and design review committee. It is the goal of this individual to interpret the domestic and international regulatory standards and help implement them into the product design. When regulatory personnel are actively involved in the development process from the beginning, the following pitfalls are avoided:

The team follows the proper design methodologies and design controls from the start.
The team properly documents the design.
The team is privy of the performance requirements (design input) of the device.
The team performs the proper verifications and validations to fulfill requirements set forth in guidance documents.

For more information regarding medical device product development, contact us today.

Tagged Joseph Donoghue, Medical Device Development

Best Tips For Successful Medical Device Product Development

January 29 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Medical Device | Comment

It is an exciting time to be in the medical device product development industry. With medical device technology evolving so rapidly, the sky is the limit provided one’s character has the ability and resilience needed to find the right resources to help build a medical device on time, on budget and then bring it to market.

We have worked on a number of medical devices for startups and small businesses and in that time learned a great deal about building a medical device with limited resources. Here are 5 helpful tips to consider when your team is ready to take on the challenge.

1) You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

The statement seems obvious but to effectively bring a medical device to market on time and on budget, the learning curve is steep and you don’t want to learn what you don’t know on a tight time frame with limited funds.

Our advice: Look for help early in the game to help sidestep the pitfalls and deal breakers of medical device product development. Even if it’s just to make relationship for use at another time, gather as much knowledge as you can to limit your exposure to costly surprises.

2) Regulatory Red Tape Can Be Avoided By Being Smart About It

Regulatory red tape can stop a project dead in its tracks. This can be a major problem at anytime in the medical device product development lifecycle and even worse, after.

Our advice: Work with medical device regulatory personal early on in the process to help steer the product development in the right direction from day one. This will help avoid costly mistakes.

3) Work with experienced partners that have trusted relationships

Finding out that your sourcing solution or engineering team isn’t capable of delivering what they said they could halfway through your budget and timeline is a bad place to be stuck.

Our advice: Do your homework. Dig into their portfolios and check references. Get specifics of what they have done on projects they use for examples. Ask a lot of questions and don’t be shy or afraid to hurt feelings, this is your time and money. You deserve to know everything that you can.

4) Documentation, Documentation and More Documentation

Communication is key especially when dealing medical device product development. Along with the usual challenges of product development comes the added challenge of meeting regulatory standards both domestically and abroad.

Our advice: Document everything, keep a strict revision history to documents and hold individuals accountable for documenting procedures, agreements, and revisions.

Need more tips for successful medical device product development? Contact us for more tips and a free development quote.

Tagged Joseph Donoghue, medical device

How To Find A Great Electrical Engineer For Product Development

January 22 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Product Development | Comment

If you are a small business, startup or entrepreneur developing a product and you’re looking for a team or an individual to contribute when it comes to electrical engineering, then there are a few things that you might want to take note of. We recently asked our own in house electrical engineer Ryan Wilshusen about steps he would take to qualify candidates who may wish to take on an electrical engineering role related to new product development. Shortly after we explained that we weren’t looking to replace him, he gave us these answers.

Q: Are there questions startup teams or business should ask companies like Leardon regarding their electrical engineering team specific to the project or in general?

Ryan: Potential customers should get a background on the electrical engineering team or individual. What’s their past experience? What have they designed in the past? How is that experience relevant to their product? It’s important to place a timeline on their experience; the electronic landscape changes on a daily basis. Make sure your engineering team is up to speed on the latest technologies so the design can take advantage of parts and processes that are common right now to ensure cost efficiency and a long product life.

Q: Are there areas of your trade that have the highest risk of potential failure? can those be avoided / if so / how ?

Ryan: Many engineers can make a functional electronic design. The tough part is finding experience with navigating that design through regulatory and safety requirements and creating a design that can be easily and cost effectively manufactured. The electrical design must be constrained by the requirements during the prototype stage to avoid undoing mistakes down the line.

Q: What are great traits of a top notch electrical engineer ?

Ryan: A good electrical engineer understands the system design of the product. A good electrical engineer understands how his or her design impacts the mechanical, firmware, software, regulatory, safety, and manufacturing of the overall system. The best thing for the electrical engineer is not always the best overall decision for the product.

Q: How would you recommend someone pre-screen an EE prior to hiring them?

Ryan: You can make the most of your pre-screen meeting by having someone on your team knowledgeable in electronics. They don’t need to be an electrical engineer but they should have some understanding of electronics. If all else fails, read some Wikipedia and Make articles. The goal is to avoid being duped by a poor designer.

Still need answers, feel free to contact the Leardon team here.

Tagged Electrical Engineering, product development tips

Best Tips For Medical Device Manufacturing

January 17 2013 | Cliff | All Posts, Business Tips, Manufacturing Tips, Medical Device | Comments Off

When it comes to medical device product development, the fragmentation of the industry can be challenging. Medical device development and manufacturing have seen many changes in the last decade and it is arguable that global product development is one of the most exciting topics related to medical product development.

Leveraging the global supply chain for Medical Device Manufacturing

#1) With a large amount of investment dollars earmarked for medical devices, competition for the business is fierce. Not too long ago, manufacturing anything in a different country was risky and time intensive but now new communication technologies have allowed for the rapid development and manufacturing of medical devices overseas which has reduced costs and time to market. Developed and developing countries are investing in high quality medical device manufacturing facilities that allow sourcing of design and manufacturing throughout the world.

Don’t re-invent the wheel. Seek out experienced professionals

#2) Partnering up with a team that is familiar with medical device product development and manufacturing can make the process much easier. Experienced teams will:

Provide proper documentation of design history files and device master record

Make use of medical grade materials that eases certification and submittable requirements

Manufacture the product locally to supply the local market demand

Understand domestic and globals standards

#3) When looking for a product development and / or a manufacturing partner, consider working with an experienced team that can help navigate the stringent domestic and global standards from day one to avoid costly redesigns or sourcing issues.

Have questions about medical device product development and manufacturing? Contact us here.

Tagged Medical Device Manufacturing, Tips

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