What Makes a Company One of the Best Prototype Companies?
Googling the best prototype companies will result in many options that can overwhelm you. However, they are not one-size-fits-all. Depending on your needs, what’s best for another business may not be for you. That’s why you must think about your requirements and design to pick a suitable prototyping partner.
Many companies will boast about their capabilities, experience, and machinery for making prototypes. The challenge is identifying those that can meet your expectations. Here are factors you can examine to determine if a prototype company is right for you.
Experience
Verify the prototyping company’s experience in working with others in your industry. It should give you an idea of their ability to understand your needs and target market. The best prototype companies have a section for case studies on their website to help you understand how they fulfilled their clients’ prototyping needs.
Quality
Find a prototyping partner with internationally accepted quality assurance measures. Verify its accreditations, such as ISO 9001, and make sure it can protect your intellectual property and data security by exploring its ISO/IEC 27001 certification. Moreover, choose a company with IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 certifications.
Flexibility
A good prototyping company can be your one-stop shop for everything you will need to make a prototype of your product. Choose service providers offering many services, such as CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, sheet metal, and vacuum casting. These capabilities also allow them to go beyond prototyping, bringing low-volume end-use production services to you.
Efficiency
The best prototype companies respect your time and are capable of meeting deadlines. They have reasonable lead times and ensure a quick turnaround. Moreover, they work closely with you to ensure you can get optimum results that satisfy your requirements.
Dependable customer service
Prototyping requires collaboration between the service provider and the client. The best prototype companies take the time to understand your needs with a project review, which they provide at no additional cost. Make sure they speak your language to avoid communication issues, and constantly update clients on their progress to avoid guesswork.