# Ep. 25 - Preparing for a Product Launch - Part 1

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2024-07-25
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1
- Listen: http://opulo.io

## Summary

Stephen Oz and Lucian Che Park of Opulo discuss the comprehensive planning and execution required for launching a hardware product, using their Lumen 3D printer as a case study. They emphasize that engineering is only a small fraction of the launch process, detailing the importance of Gantt charts, dependency management, and the 'outside stuff first' strategy for vendor sourcing. The hosts explain how they handle long-lead items like cameras and cables, validate production parts through rigorous testing, and build a 'hero unit' to unlock marketing assets like documentation and launch videos.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=0) Introduction: Stephen Oz and Lucian Che Park on Launch Planning
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=200) Planning Methodology: Gantt Charts and Dependency Management
- [18:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=1092) Vendor Sourcing and Communication Strategies
- [31:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=1889) Validation Testing and Beta Programs
- [38:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=2283) Building the Hero Unit and Documentation
- [44:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=2671) Launch Video Production and Asset Management
- [52:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1#t=3120) Quality Control Processes and Test Jigs

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Opulo (company)
- Lumen (product)
- Formlabs (company)
- MasterCam (company)
- Notion (tool)
- GitHub (tool)
- Mattermost (tool)
- CapCut (tool)
- iMovie (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [11: The Time In-Between](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-01-11-the-time-in-between) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Episode 068: Love Handles and Bald Spots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-04-22-episode-068-love-handles-and-bald-spots) (Making It)
- [429: The Fabric of Your Lungs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-09-429-the-fabric-of-your-lungs) (Making It)
- [#051 - Connecting the (hardware) dots, with Greg Fisher of BSG and Hardware Massive, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-03-28-051-connecting-the-hardware-dots-with-greg-fisher-of-bsg-and-hardware-massive-us) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [053: Manufacturing, Quality & 3D Printing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-23-053-manufacturing-quality-3d-printing) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-07-25-ep-25-preparing-for-a-product-launch-part-1. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast.