Alright so this may be the most underrated topics of product development, but Product Prints is actually named Product Prints because of blueprints! When people think of blueprints they are thinking of a house. Common right? Its common because homes are the most popular products people interact with the construction of. But in actuality, blueprints are used for everything you see around you. The CAD models are great, but the 2D blueprints that are made from them relay the information production and all the technicians that design the tools to make the product reference on a daily basis.
The other catch, they are the other half of your contract with the companies. You see, blueprints for products, like a bluetooth speaker for example, not only show the shape and the size of the speaker, it will also identify how smooth it needs to be, what kind of material it will be made out of, how flat surfaces need to be, what the function of the final assembly needs to accomplish, and so on. It is the bible of what you’re agreeing to pay the manufacturer for. So later on, if the final product does not match what the CAD model and blueprint portrays after Design for Manufacturability has been completed, the manufacturer is on the hook for making things right!
The simple fact is the blueprints provide all written details so there is no misunderstanding. This is HUGE for when you are working with global vendors. There may be misunderstandings when there are language gaps but there are never any grey areas when the prints are black and white! When RFQ’s are received by a manufacturer, the first objective is for the leadership of engineering and production teams to review every aspect of the print packets. Even if they have to translate the description they know what they are quoting. The power of clarity and holding your manufacturable accountable in the partnership to come will be the foundation of a successful investment in creating your product.
Plain and simple, blueprints are the insurance you need to guarantee ideation to sales. That’s why we are Product PRINTS! If it wasn’t for this crucial element in the product development pie, there would be lots of wasted time and money. We aren’t in the business of wasting either of those.
