After signing an NDA to protect both parties intellectual property, customer provides early specifications, sketches and general ideas. Customer describes project with enough detail to understand materials, processes and possible technologies needed for their project. A list of critical parameters/specifications is generated to help customer and FloForm get enough detail to provide an accurate quotation. We will look through the details to understand all products, materials and design techniques will be required. Customers may come with just ideas and sketches that may require Industrial Design and Product Design to prototypes, working models and production parts.
Design Quote and Execution:
FloForm takes all compiled information and develops a quotation for the project. Projects that are large in scope and time line are quoted by a reference, but must be billed by the hour. Quotes for smaller projects are quoted as a not to exceed amount. A deposit is required to begin the actual design portion of the project. After the quote is accepted and the deposit is received, design work begins. Work can include 3D design, drawings, Finite Element Analysis, Design of Experiments. Project updates with drawings and jpg images are provided as the project progresses.
Quotation for Tooling:
As the parts are becoming more finalized in shape and performance, we begin quoting the prototype/production tooling for the customer. We provide a global array of suppliers. The location of the supplier is dependent on the customers’ needs such as product cost, shipping cost, location, need for assembly/testing. We have the supply base to fit the customer’s individual needs. Quoting is done during development to allow for any modifications/changes to components to help with part production.
Product Development:
Once vendors have been chosen for the supply of the product, tooling is launched. A deposit is required to begin the tooling process. Tool drawings are created and reviewed by FloForm and the customer. Then the tools are built. Production tooling times generally range for 3-8 weeks from deposit to first samples, depending on type of tooling being constructed. Sample parts are shipped to the customer for review and evaluation. After the parts meet specification, the tooling is completed and production begins.
