# 203: Design for Manufacturing for a New Invention Product

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-11-24
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Paul Davis, a senior industrial designer at Mako Design, explains the critical importance of integrating Design for Manufacturing (DFM) early in the product development process. He contrasts basic visual CAD with manufacturing-grade CAD, emphasizing that considering draft angles, tolerances, and material choices (like injection molding ABS) from the start reduces tooling costs and risk. Davis advocates for simplicity and the use of off-the-shelf OEM parts to create cost-effective, high-quality products that are easier to scale. The discussion highlights how this approach allows startups to isolate unique engineering challenges during prototyping rather than fixing fundamental design flaws later.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=0) Introduction: Paul Davis and Mako Design
- [1:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=108) Paul Davis's Background and Edinburgh Degree
- [3:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=239) Concept CAD vs. Manufacturing-Ready CAD
- [7:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=479) Draft Angles, Tolerances, and Material Selection
- [10:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=650) Prototyping Strategy and Isolating Unknowns
- [12:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=735) Tooling Risks and Production Samples
- [15:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=939) Balancing Aesthetics, Function, and Cost
- [18:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product#t=1102) Simplicity and Scaling Hardware Startups

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mako Design (company)
- Paul Davis (other)
- Kevin Mako (other)
- Edinburgh University (other)
- ABS plastic (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [IDology #8 - Dos and Don’ts of product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-02-15-idology-8-dos-and-donts-of-product-development) (IDology)
- [S2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg Paulsen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-01-23-s2-e5-rapid-prototyping-deep-dive-with-greg-paulsen) (The Builder Circle)
- [#461: Why Manufacturing is Part of Product Development with Mike Dolphin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-06-22-461-why-manufacturing-is-part-of-product-development-with-mike-dolphin) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [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)
- [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/2023-11-24-203-design-for-manufacturing-for-a-new-invention-product. 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.