# Transition from Prototype to Mass Manufacturing with Scott Miller of Dragon Innovation

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-03-12
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 11
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno

## Summary

Scott Miller, founder and CEO of Dragon Innovation, discusses the critical transition from prototype to mass manufacturing, drawing on his experience helping companies like Pebble and Ring. He details the strategic acquisition of Dragon by Avnet, the importance of selecting the right factory tier, and specific design for manufacturing (DFM) tips such as draft angles and part count reduction. Miller also shares insights on fundraising, contrasting angel investors with VCs and noting the diminishing weight of crowdfunding as a validation signal.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=15) Introduction and Dragon Innovation Overview
- [3:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=185) Origin Story and Avnet Acquisition
- [17:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=1040) Case Study: Pebble and Ring
- [28:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=1698) Selecting the Right Manufacturing Partner
- [37:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=2276) Local vs. China Manufacturing and Volume Estimation
- [48:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=2917) Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Assembly (DFA)
- [54:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-12-transition-from-prototype-to-mass-manufacturing-with-scott-miller-of-dragon-inno#t=3280) Fundraising: Angels, VCs, and Crowdfunding

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Dragon Innovation (company)
- Avnet (company)
- Pebble (product)
- Ring (product)
- Bolt (company)
- Hackster (company)
- iRobot (company)
- Formlabs (company)
- DropCam (company)
- Sphero (product)
- Maker Bot (product)
- Olin College of Engineering (company)
- Hardware Academy (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2 E4: Scaling up Manufacturing with Scott Miller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-01-09-s2-e4-scaling-up-manufacturing-with-scott-miller) (The Builder Circle)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller - Sudden SinoAmerican Synthesis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-17-an-interview-with-scott-miller-sudden-sinoamerican-synthesis) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller (2nd)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-07-22-an-interview-with-scott-miller-2nd) (The Amp Hour)
- [#032 - Why manufacturing in USA vs China is becoming interesting, with Scott N. Miller of Dragon Innovation, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-07-05-032-why-manufacturing-in-usa-vs-china-is-becoming-interesting-with-scott-n-mille) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [S1 E4: Cracking the Code of Hardware Manufacturing with Scott Miller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-15-s1-e4-cracking-the-code-of-hardware-manufacturing-with-scott-miller) (The Builder Circle)

## Citing this page

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