# 064: Preparing and Executing Your Product's First Production Run

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2021-02-23
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Mike Morton, who ran Dell's business desktops design division and previously operated a design firm in Hong Kong, explains how startups can successfully execute their first overseas manufacturing run. He emphasizes the necessity of integrating manufacturing considerations early in the design phase to avoid costly errors and the critical importance of having 'boots on the ground' representatives in China to manage factory relationships and quality control. Morton advises founders to treat the first production run as an investment in brand reputation rather than a profit center, urging them to double their budgets and secure high-caliber experts to mitigate the risk of catastrophic failure.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=0) Introduction: Mike Morton and Dell's Desktop Division
- [3:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=191) Integrating Manufacturing Considerations into Early Design
- [6:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=374) The Necessity of Boots on the Ground in China
- [9:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=581) Assembling High-Caliber Expert Teams for Production
- [13:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=780) Navigating Factory Relationships and IP Protection
- [15:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=945) Treating First Production as an Investment, Not Profit
- [18:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=1101) Doubling Budgets and Managing Opportunity Loss
- [21:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-23-064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run#t=1296) Securing Financing for Quality and De-risking

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Dell (company)
- Sunbeam (company)
- Hewlett-Packard (company)
- TechStars (company)
- Capital Factory (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Alibaba (other)
- Indiegogo (other)
- Kickstarter (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [#023 - Developing consumer products with an all-in-one manufacturer in China that is just different, with Jacob Rothman of Platform88, China](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-04-26-023-developing-consumer-products-with-an-all-in-one-manufacturer-in-china-that-i) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [A First-Generation Product Master Class with Milo Werner, Recorded LIVE at "Build Better 2022" (hosted by Instrumental Inc.)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-04-05-a-first-generation-product-master-class-with-milo-werner-recorded-live-at-build) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [#172 - Ops Talk: 5 Things Brands Get Wrong](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-12-03-172-ops-talk-5-things-brands-get-wrong) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [57: Mashed in the Gears](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-02-19-57-mashed-in-the-gears) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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