Phase 1
 

Defining the specifications (high level)

The customer needs to let us know the functional needs, the typical use cases, etc. (depending on the product). 

Phase 2
 

Feasibility / Proof of Concept

The content of this phase varies widely depending on the project. The purpose is to address the main assumptions and confirm the product can actually be made and can work as intended.
Phase 3
 

Prototyping

We complete some of the design work and go through the prototyping iterations. It is a rare product that is simple enough for its first prototype to be “just right”.

Phase 4
 

Tooling

Many of our projects involve a lot of non-recurring engineering, for example molds for mechanical parts.
Phase 5
 

Pre-Production Preparation

There is still some work before we can start making the final product. If we just buy material and give it to untrained operators, it usually leads to a quality disaster. All sorts of issues, which were not foreseen in risk analyses, may appear once products are made and tested using mass production processes.

Phase 6
 

Mass Production

This is the time when you (the customer) can start to deliver products to your customers. We are happy making smaller batches at the beginning, and iterating and ramping the volumes up quickly, as needed.

Estimates, quotations, and payments

At the start of every phase (see above), we estimate the amount of work and other expenses (if any), and we provide a quotation.

We like to cut the work into relatively small blocks, phase by phase. There is a simple reason for this. As we complete one phase, it determines and clarifies the content of the next phase. That’s why we re-estimate the amount of work of the following phases each time we complete one phase.

Got questions about working with Agilian?

Let’s talk through your situation and requirements.