Risks and advantages of manufacturing a prototype in China

Manufacturing a prototype in China is the most common shortcut among inventors. We call it a shortcut because, with this decision, inventors aim to reduce the manufacturing costs of the first functional prototype.

Communication and flexibility are the fundamental bases of the prototyping process. Believing that the ideal scenario for prototyping is found in China is turning your back on reality. 

China is the manufacturing epicenter of products in the world. The vast majority of inventors and product marketing companies decide to move their production processes to China at some point to improve manufacturing costs.

However, when it comes to prototyping, creating products, innovating, iterating, and exploring alternatives, manufacturing in China is not advantageous. Below are some arguments supporting this statement.

Manufacturing prototypes in China limits innovation

Factories capable of mass production of products are equipped with machinery worth several million dollars. These are true robots that can only be cost-effective with thousands of hours of continuous production.

This inseparable reality of the manufacturers’ business model jeopardizes the flexibility needed to innovate and create a prototype.

Suitability of the technical team for prototyping

Factories have technical staff and engineers. However, these profiles are usually not experienced in product development and innovation. Their specialty typically lies in transforming or adapting parts to be compatible with the available manufacturing methods. 

On the other hand, the technical staff at industrial factories, due to the nature of their work and daily experience, are usually not the best suited to seek the best solution alternatives for a new invention.

Choice of manufacturing methods in China

The prototyping process must keep future compatibility with the means available for industrial-scale manufacturing in focus. However, this cycle cannot be conditioned by a specific method. The priority is to find the cheapest way to manufacture the invention in the future and thus add value to its competitiveness.

However, when you decide to design a prototype in China, the designers at industrial factories usually prioritize ensuring that the parts of your prototype are compatible with their available manufacturing methods. The priority will not be to find the cheapest way to manufacture your product.

Importance of the prototype for a factory in China

To reinforce the previous point, after understanding the business model of a factory in China, you will agree with us that creating a single prototype unit in China is not attractive to any manufacturer. The profitability of their machines and production lines depends on large-volume runs.

What is truly important for the Chinese manufacturer in this case is that you remain on their production line for the future of the product. Conversely, they are unlikely to be willing to design a prototype that, no matter how competitive, is not compatible with their manufacturing lines.

Cultural and communication barriers with Chinese factories

Beyond language differences, the real communication barrier between inventors and factories in China is cultural. The work system of factories in China is perfectly configured to sell their products, customize very specific parts, add branding, and handle logistics operations. However, creating a new invention with factories in China can be absolutely frustrating.

Limitation of knowledge transfer and intellectual property

The real value of a functional prototype is not associated with the price of a physical unit. The value of a prototype is related to the learning gained during the process. Manufacturing a prototype in China, instead of transferring this value to the company or creative team, places the prototype’s value in an environment of absolute risk.

fabricar un prototipo en China

Advantages of manufacturing a prototype in China

Manufacturing a prototype of an invention in China, depending on the type of product, can have advantages. If intellectual property control is not important, if there is no real innovation, and only small modifications of existing products are intended, it may make sense to locate Chinese manufacturers of these products and negotiate with them for minor modifications.

Proximity to industrial processes

While proximity to industrial processes can limit the possibilities to innovate and create competitive products, when it comes to minor modifications of existing products, where patents have no value, this proximity to industry can provide a great advantage for entrepreneurs.

Speed to market

The industrialization cycle of a prototype, besides being intensive in economic investments, represents shortening the path to market. Since these are minor modifications, factories in China can be a perfect ally to obtain units available for sale in the shortest time.

Prototyping costs in China

The variables that most affect the cost of a functional prototype are those related to technical uncertainty and require intensive research processes. However, in these cycles of minor modification of existing products, the concept of prototyping is completely different. It involves manufacturing samples of already industrialized products with minor changes, such as changing colors, branding, packaging, and other details of low technical complexity. Of course, in these cases, prototype prices in China are substantially lower than what a invention creation lab can offer.

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