In general, a prototype is an early draft of a final product or system that is built, tested and adjusted as necessary until an approved prototype is settled on to develop the final product. It’s basically a throwaway model that allows people on a project to understand the requirements before entering the expensive design and coding stages. In a nutshell, it’s a test run.
Rapid prototyping is when you quickly create a preliminary product version to evaluate the functionality and design. It’s like regular prototyping but on speed. Prototypes aren’t exactly new, as they have formed the basis of early models of several of history’s greatest technological advancements (telephone, Internet, wheel). As you can probably imagine, getting a prototype through the process faster can result in a faster product to market, which increases a company’s profits.
Here’s a look at the general prototype industry process step-by-step:
- Gather Requirements
- Design Quickly
- Build Prototype
- Engineer Product
- Refine Prototype
- Customer Evaluation
No one should mistake a prototype for the finished project, as it’s merely a model that must be polished and finished.
Main Benefit of Rapid Prototyping: More Profitable Products
Rapid prototyping has been known to boost profits and efficiency in silicone keypad creation, something we are proud to offer here at Si-Tech. There are many things that lead to greater profits for a company, made possible by rapid prototyping.
- Reduced time and cost: Prototyping not only improves the quality of the end product because it meets strict specifications, it saves time going through several iterations of the product in question. And because strong prototyping ensures product quality and savings, your company can reduce its production costs as well.
- Increased user involvement: Clients want to feel involved in all aspects of their project process. Rapid prototyping requires user involvement so they can see, touch, and interact with a working model, give immediate feedback, request changes, and alter specifications. It also helps to prevent misunderstandings and miscommunications throughout the process.
Cost Efficiency
Before introducing a new product to the market, a company must be able to show a prototype prior to the release date so customers and investors can provide feedback. In turn, this allows the company to finalize necessary changes for the release. Companies are able to hit the market sooner when keypad prototypes are mass-produced at a low cost. As a result, the company experiences greater profitability over a shorter period of time, boosting its bottom line.
Contact SiTECH
We would be glad to speak with you more about how rapid prototyping can increase your profits during silicone keypad creation. To learn more about our unique rapid prototyping process, contact us today at 757-887-8488.
