Manufacturing Bootcamp
Innovation Works is a NextCorps Manufacturing Accelerator Partner. We’ve adapted NextCorps curriculum into IW's Manufacturing Bootcamp which covers all the steps and documentation a hardware startup must develop in order to successfully manufacture their product. This curriculum is free and open to the public!
Funding and intensive coaching is available for companies that fully participate in the bootcamp. Sign up for our newsletter to get notified of each new session!
About the Bootcamp
Interested in working with a local manufacturer? Check out our Scalable Innovation Grants!
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Session 1 - Product Development & Specifications
This session will cover how we use the DoD Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) and other product development philosophies to help you maximize your chances of successfully scaling manufacturing for your product. This session also covers how to develop a Market/Product Requirements Document (MRD/PRD).
Session 2 - Bill of Materials (BOM) & Bill of Process (BOP)
Your Bill of Materials (BOM) is a list of all the pieces needed make your product, and your Bill of Process (BOP) is a list of all the steps necessary to assemble the pieces into a functional product. Learn why these two documents are essential for estimating and managing your costs, communicating with manufacturers, and optimizing your design.
Session 3 - Cost & Risk Management
This session talks about different types of costs associated with manufacturing a product and how they fit into a cashflow model. We also talk about how to identify and manage a wide variety of risks associated with scaling manufacturing and delivering a product to customers.
Session 4 - Intro to Quality
From the first prototype you make until you are running full scale production, it is important to keep track of the key elements that determine the quality of your product and business. This session will go over some of the key concepts in measuring for quality in your project and building quality tracking into your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Session 5 - Design for Manufacturing & Assembly
Making a product once or in small quantities is much different than making the product in higher quantities. In this section we explore how good product design will affect cost both from a parts standpoint and process standpoint. We will explore many other aspects of how design can affect the final product with regards to quality, sustainability, packaging, maintenance and more.
Session 6 - Working with Manufacturers & Suppliers
This section will give you tools for establishing positive relationships with your suppliers. We'll cover steps you can take to choose the best suppliers for you and how to establish good communications with them. We also cover the information and documentation that you should have ready before approaching a supplier or contract manufacturer so that they take you seriously. As an early stage manufacturer, suppliers and vendors will be much more willing to work with you when you come prepared to give them what they need to do business with you.
Session 7 - Production Quality, Testing, & Certification
This section will get you started on finding the certifications that your product will need and setting up processes that will reliably produce products that meet the specifications of those certifications. We will also introduce FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) testing which is a model used to detect how your product might fail in extreme conditions. Your homework will be to get started on your own FMEA so that you will have knowledge about your product.
Session 8 - Considerations for Scale
This section will help you decide when it is time to think about scaling up your production from a financial and capacity standpoint. It willl also introduce the many aspects of large scale production that you may not have give a lot of thought to up to this point. We will cover topics of part numbering, tracking, product labeling, Customer Support, Warranties and more.