# 196: Common Gaps Being Ready for Manufacturing

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-10-05
- Length: 24m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/podcast/196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing/

## Summary

Laura Teicher, President of Forge, explains how hardware startups often fail in their first manufacturing run due to over-engineering or under-engineering prototypes, assuming contract manufacturers will fix design flaws. She emphasizes the necessity of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) to simplify products and complete rigorous documentation, including Bills of Materials and CAD files, before engaging suppliers. Teicher advises startups to be honest about their readiness level when approaching manufacturers, leveraging Forge’s network of innovation-friendly suppliers to avoid burning relationships with premature or unprepared outreach.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=0) Introduction: Laura Teicher and Forge
- [2:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=132) Forge's Mission and Startup Survival Rates
- [4:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=257) Design Pitfalls: Over-Designing and Under-Designing
- [7:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=463) The Critical Leap to Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- [11:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=691) The Necessity of Complete Manufacturing Documentation
- [14:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=872) Creating a Comprehensive Manufacturing Pack
- [18:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing#t=1109) Timing and Strategy for Engaging Contract Manufacturers

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Forge (company)
- Mako Design (company)
- MakoDesign.com (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 8 | From Prototype to Market: Design for Manufacturability with Untapped Engineering Resources](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2020-08-25-ep-8-from-prototype-to-market-design-for-manufacturability-with-untapped-enginee) (Moore's Lobby)
- [#037 - Disrupting with digital manufacturing, with Nick Pinkston of Plethora, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-09-13-037-disrupting-with-digital-manufacturing-with-nick-pinkston-of-plethora-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)
- [Top 10 Product Design Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Darragh Hudson | How to Set up A Manufacturing Supply Chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-11-18-darragh-hudson-how-to-set-up-a-manufacturing-supply-chain) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-05-196-common-gaps-being-ready-for-manufacturing. 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 Product Startup.