Benjamin Chia’s Post

Great tips from Benjamin Chia for those in Hardware Design and Engineering. #hardwareishard #design #prototyping

I was recently asked to list off pieces of advice for Hardware Engineers - here's a few: • It can probably be solved with magnets. But there's usually less expensive solutions. • Elaborate design is alluring, but good design is simple. • Don’t look down on your vendors, especially overseas. It will pay off in the long run. • Calipers are considered a weapon by the TSA. Don’t fly with them. • The quality of your manager is one of, if not the most important factor in your success and growth. • Making a useful product requirements document is really hard. It should inform almost all design decisions. • Users will abuse your products in ways you could never dream of. • There's downsides to every product development approach - fast & messy vs. diligent & thorough. It’s always greener on the other side. See the rest over at https://lnkd.in/eTVNCkNW

My experience with product development has been a very educational one, and I have met so many interesting, knowledgeable and kind people along the way. From my first lightbulb moment I initially engaged an innovation company who charged me a lot of money for drawings of a virtual product, no advice how to move forward, and it turned out that the tooling costs for the product would have been in excess of £50K. A friend introduced to me Ian Campbell OBE who’s great advice was to tell me to stop putting my hand in my own pocket because a lot of innovators lose so much money funding an idea that never happens. Wind forward a few years and I met the great design guys at Coventry uni ( Keir Haines Paul Magee Guy Smallman ) at a technical fair at the NEC Birmingham; they embraced my idea and stripped it back to something very simple, useable and marketable. Thank you! From there I spent a few years testing the prototype and it further evolved into the product it is today; different shape for better stability, different material which doesn’t crack when you accidentally run a wheelchair over it (!), and 3 different sizes to reflect tots, youth and mature clients with various needs. I was then introduced to RMS (Rehabilitation Manufacturing Supplies) based in Kent who manufacture standing frames, walkers, seating etc; it was a chance meeting, product demo time, staff meeting, and Simon Frayne asked us if there were any new products we wanted showcasing. My hand shot up faster than Hermione Grainger, and that sealed the deal for getting StandSure to a market ready product. Check out https://lnkd.in/eCnGsW6x I hope this is of interest to fellow innovators, and am more than happy to help anyone launch a good idea. I do think physios and OTs can be great innovators but it can be difficult to know where to start. If you think you have a great idea then go for it! Just be wary who you give money to in the first instance, and where that company leaves you once it’s taken your pennies.

In product design and engineering, failure is essential for success. Each misstep provides critical insights, helping you refine and improve. Adopting a growth mindset, where failures are seen as opportunities. By embracing an iterative process—testing, tweaking, and improving—you ensure continuous improvement and progress. Collaboration and open communication are crucial. ‘Failures’ can spark new ideas and solutions, remember that every failure is a step forward. Fail fast, with Team Human and learn from mistakes early to ensure a quality final product. Interested in finding out how Team Human can help your business make the leap into hardware? Contact us today at [email protected] or on our website www.teamhuman.ie Team Human is a Product design and innovation consultancy based in Wicklow, Ireland. Team Human can create prototypes of varying levels depending on project requirements and budget from rapid foam models to slick high end demo products.#teamhuman #productdesign #ireland #dublin #Wicklow #industrialdesign #medicaldevices #innovation #designagency #designthinking #3dprint #workshop #prototype #rapidprototyping #design #irishdesign #sketchmodel #startup #supportlocal #technology #advancement #realise #idea #designermaker #product #project #team #hardware #ConceptToReality #Manufacturing

Bringing a concept to life is deeply satisfying. After working through hundreds of prototypes, returning to animate the parts you once crafted by hand is amazing. This process allows you to see your creation from fresh perspectives and explore paths you never imagined before. #MadoDynamic #Innovation #Prototyping #DesignThinking #Engineering #CreativeProcess #RapidPrototyping

Heroes of #Hardware world. Giles Lowe, CEO of Spanner. Few people can build a successful consumer electronics product. Even fewer can build multiple successful products. Giles Lowe, Arne Lang-Ree and Spanner team have been developing amazing products for the best of Bay Area corporations 🍏 and startups 🚀 for over a decade. Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Product Strategy. We had a pleasure working together in the past. Spanner team was an example for AJProTech when we were getting started adding Mechanical design services. That was the time when we started offering one-stop product development, from idea to production. It's always great to meet and discuss trends, opportunities, and where industry is going. Looking forward to continue building future gems together! #industrialdesign #productdesign #mechanicaldesign #design

INVENTORS - How important are PROTOTYPES when pitching your invention? Well, that depends! While it certainly never hurts to have a functional product to show to companies or even retailers, it’s not completely necessary in order to get a licensing deal. That being said, when you can completely prove your concept functions the way you say it will it certainly may give you a leg up! As someone who’s been in the industry for nearly 25 years, I’ve seen a lot of good companies and a lot of poor ones as well that do product development and prototyping. The characteristics of a good one are that they are patient and extremely detail oriented and thorough in every phase of development. Sometimes it’s to the point of exhaustion to me but that’s when I know that they’re doing their job correctly and really making sure that everything is set up perfectly well for mass production by the factory. Another great trait of these companies is that they’re able to be very cognizant of the inventors typical budget, which is often limited, and knowing they have to work best under those circumstances. In the end though, if you have a product idea, it needs to be developed and it should be developed by somebody that has knowledge and experience and that can put it in a position so that a factory can correctly produce it consistently and in mass. If you’re in need of any design and development work or prototypes, I work with some of the very best people and companies in the industry so reach out and let me connect you to them! #inventing #licensing #prototypes #productdevelopment #manufacturing

Accelerate your ideas. Discover our approach and philosophy. A Dedicated Team of Engineers Ready to Develop, Prototype, Test, and Scale Your Product At TIA, we're your partners in turning ideas into tangible realities. Our range of services is tailored to meet your every need, from conceptualization to execution. From brainstorming sessions to detailed design work, we'll help you imagine the possibilities and refine your vision. Our experienced designers and engineers are here to bring your ideas to life, utilizing cutting-edge technology and industry-leading techniques to ensure the highest quality results. But we don't stop there. Prototyping is where the magic truly begins. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, we'll create functional prototypes that allow you to test and refine your concept before moving into full-scale production. Whether you're a startup looking to disrupt the market or an established company seeking to stay ahead of the curve, we're here to support you every step of the way. Let us be your partners in innovation – together, we'll create a future filled with endless possibilities.

INVENTORS - How important are PROTOTYPES when pitching your invention? Well, that depends! While it certainly never hurts to have a functional product to show to companies or even retailers, factors, it’s not completely necessary in order to get a licensing deal. That being said, when you can completely prove your concept functions the way you say it will it certainly may give you a leg up! As someone who’s been in the industry for nearly 25 years, I’ve seen a lot of good companies and a lot of poor ones as well that do product development and prototyping. The characteristics of a good one are that they are patient and extremely detail oriented and thorough in every phase of development. Sometimes it’s to the point of exhaustion to me but that’s when I know that they’re doing their job correctly and really making sure that everything is set up perfectly well for mass production by the factory. Another great trait of these companies is that they’re able to be very cognizant of the inventors typical budget, which is often limited, and knowing they have to work best under those circumstances. In the end though, if you have a product idea, it needs to be developed and it should be developed by somebody that has knowledge and experience and that can put it in a position so that a factory can correctly produce it consistently and in mass. If you’re in need of any design and development work or prototypes, I work with some of the very best people and companies in the industry so reach out and let me connect you to them! #inventing #licensing #prototyping #manufacturing #sales #retail

Prototyping activity Sometimes numbers speak louder than words Here is a summary of our prototyping activity since the beginning of 2024. Feel free to contact us for more details or to challenge us on a new project