Prototype Assembly and Testing

This is where the rubber meets the road from a design point of view. Part fit is verified, performance is measured, and ease of manufacturing is considered. First article testing provides significant information to the designers for actual performance verses requirements and is demonstrated. We like to have the designers either do the work or be on hand to get continuity from concept to reality. This provides valuable feedback to the designers and the information gathered here starts to build the knowledge base for the DFM stage. Things like critical measurements for production, test procedure recommendations, and unknown system interactions are observed and remedied.