Mechanical/Industrial engineer with 16 years of general engineering experience, skilled at work involved in every stage of the design lifecycle. I've helped over 70 clients with their new product design ideas, using the following manufacturing processes:

• Plastic injection molding
• Sheet metal
• 3D printing
• Machining
• Closed die forging
• Other mold processes (compression, gas-assist, etc.)

Assuming we're going from start to finish with the product, here's the process I would typically follow:

• Discuss product concept and determine what product must do, what functionality it needs, what characteristics it needs, aesthetics etc.
• Create an initial concept design and confirm that this meets all of the criteria discussed earlier
• From there, move on to an initial prototype design to test it out in the real world. First prototype will be tested and reviewed to see what works and what doesn't
• Subsequent prototype designs to iron out the issues and/or add new bells and whistles that weren't discussed before but look to be useful additions
• Fully functional prototype is achieved. Final manufacturing design is put together and prototyped one last time to confirm that everything is still in working order
• If final prototype is fully functional as well, final manufacturing design is forwarded to the manufacturer. I continue to stay in contact with the manufacturer as they work their way through the mold making process