# Design & Manufacturing Consulting with Scott Williams from Xentronics

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2023-03-19
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 624
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/624-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics/

## Summary

Scott Williams, founder of Zentronics in Melbourne, explains how he scaled a small electronics design and manufacturing consultancy from a solo freelancer to a six-person firm. He details the business challenges of avoiding fixed-price contracts for new product development due to unknowns like EMC compliance and integration risks, advocating instead for agile estimates and phased scoping. Williams also discusses hiring strategies, preferring 'V-shaped' engineers with deep specialties over generalists, and the importance of maintaining hands-on technical involvement while managing business growth.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=0) Introduction and Zentronics Overview
- [1:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=89) End-to-End Product Development Services
- [5:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=326) The Complexity of Test Fixtures and Manufacturing Support
- [12:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=749) Why Fixed-Price Quotes Fail in New Product Development
- [14:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=843) EMC Risks and the Dunning-Kruger Effect
- [18:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=1123) Agile Methodologies and Realistic Project Scoping
- [22:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=1370) From Moonlighting to Full-Time Founder
- [26:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=1581) Client Acquisition: Freelance Platforms to Local Referrals
- [34:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=2041) Scaling Challenges and Saying No to Projects
- [43:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-19-design-manufacturing-consulting-with-scott-williams-from-xentronics#t=2601) Hiring V-Shaped Engineers and Office Evolution

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zentronics (company)
- IntelliDesign (company)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Altium (tool)
- FCC (other)
- CE (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Scaling an Electronics Design Business: Insights from Jordan Danko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-22-scaling-an-electronics-design-business-insights-from-jordan-danko) (OnTrack)
- [S1E08 Getting laid off and starting an engineering company | Aaron Moncur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-20-s1e08-getting-laid-off-and-starting-an-engineering-company-aaron-moncur) (Being an Engineer)
- [How to Outsource Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-12-21-how-to-outsource-product-development) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Product Design and Manufacturing with Nick Frank of Knectiv](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Development Costs for Hardware Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-07-development-costs-for-hardware-startups) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

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