OEM / ODM & Product Development
We take an idea or an existing product and turn it into something a factory can actually build: the specification, the materials, samples and revisions, and the production specification that follows. You do not need a drawing to start.
Small-lot production can also be discussed, depending on the project. The workable quantity changes with the product, so tell us what you have in mind.
The difference between OEM and ODM
Which route you take changes what you need to bring and what we do.
| OEM | ODM | |
|---|---|---|
| Design and specification | Built to your specification | Worked out together from the start |
| What you bring | The specification (a drawing or a physical sample makes it faster) | A description of what you want |
| What we do | Select a factory that can build to it, and manage production | Start from the specification: materials, structure and cost |
| Best suited to | A fixed specification, or moving an existing product to a new source | A first own-brand product |
You do not have to choose between them before contacting us. We will tell you which route fits after hearing what you want to make.
From an idea through to mass production
A drawing is not required to begin. Most projects start from a hand sketch or a photo of a reference product.
Put it into words
Where it will be used, what is wrong with what exists, and what it needs to sell for. Those three are enough to start choosing materials and structure. No drawing is needed at this point.
Decide materials and structure
The same appearance can cost very differently depending on the material. We put forward several combinations that fit the price you are aiming at.
Write the specification
Dimensions and tolerances, color, surface finish, the acceptable range of appearance, how function is verified, labeling and packing. What is not written here becomes “never asked for” in production.
Make samples
The factory produces samples for you to hold. Revisions happen here. We tell you how each revision moves the delivery date.
Fix the production specification
The sample you approve becomes the reference for every pass or fail decision. The conditions for production — volume, lead time, price — are settled here.
Into production and quality control
From here, see Services and Quality Management.
About small production runs
“Make a small quantity first and see how it sells” is a common request. Small runs are possible, but the smaller the quantity, the higher the unit cost. Where tooling is required, how that cost is spread across the run decides whether the project works at all.
- Whether the product needs tooling changes everything about small runs
- Materials often have a minimum purchase quantity, which becomes the real floor
- Modifying an existing product rather than starting from zero can make small runs realistic
- If the volume is expected to grow, we put that plan in front of the factory as part of the negotiation
The workable quantity depends on the product. Tell us the volume you have in mind and we will start from whether there is a way to make it work at that number.