Product Development

Design Specification – After the requirement document, the design specification is just as important. A well written design document will capture all of the engineering and design team’s answers to the requirement specification. It is likely that all of the requirements cannot be realized as written and compromises will need to be made. This document is basically a way to document and get signoff on what actually will be developed, to assure the original intent and requirements will be sufficiently met.

Validation and Verification – The third leg to this development process documentation stool is the validation and verification document, also known as the V&V plan. This document will define how each of the design elements will be validated or verified, either with testing or other type of review, to assure the design properly addresses the requirements. The end result of this document would we a full detail of all validation and testing to confirm all requirements are met. Think of it as a way to close the loop on the requirement specification.

TLW has experience with this sort of documentation and methods for tracking these. These documents significantly improve the development process, and if you are doing anything for functional safety, machine safety or other high reliability systems, they are basically required documents. We can help with the development of these critical documents to aid in your success.

Many engineering groups have a number of tasks they need to accomplish while working on a new product development. Like editing or reviewing any written documentation, having others review your engineering design work is ideal. Most engineering teams know the benefits of a design review, but many do not have the time necessary to properly complete these reviews to the detail needed. Additionally, some engineering teams are tasked to develop systems they are not as familiar with and look for others to support their efforts. TLW has experience in a variety of engineering aspects that are part of the development process.

Our major area of expertise is with electronic product design which covers a wide range of circuitry and product types. We can provide design review, design guidance and design support for many different types of circuit design and PCB layout, as well as product packaging and production related design support and review. Having TLW support your engineering team will provide them with the help and guidance they need for their success.

During the development process, it is important to consider the manufacturing process as well. Assuring the product is easy to build is key to helping to maintain low production costs. Automated systems will have design constraints to consider. Manual assembly will have limitations as well when done at scale. Will the product need to be maintained or repaired in its lifetime? If so, consideration for this as well is needed.

Aside from the product design, there may be aspects of the production that will need designed as well. Specialized production or test fixtures are often needed to support mass production. Fixture design is different than product design in for a number of reasons.

TLW has experience with all of these aspects and can work with you and your production team to optimize your design and production fixtures for your internal production. If you don’t have an internal production team, TLW can help you determine a good manufacturer and work to help you optimize your design and meet any quality systems required.

Perhaps your product roadmap includes products for use in hazardous locations. These sorts of products require additional design elements and certifications to address ignition sources. TLW has experience in many of the various protection concepts available, including intrinsic safety, and can provide you with the design guidance and support needed to be successful in developing a product for use in hazardous locations. Our experience covers the major markets providing you a path to meet North American, ATEX and IECEx requirements. Whether it is a new product design or an existing one that needs to be available in a hazardous location rated version, you can rely on TLW to give you the guidance and direction needed for success. TLW has experience with the following protection concepts.

• Intrinsic safety
• Increased safety
• Nonincendive
• Flameproof or explosionproof
• Pressurization
• Powder fill               
• Protection by enclosure (dust applications)