Key Takeaways:
Successful product launches require more than just functional validation. Manufacturing, testing, supply chain, and quality considerations all play a critical role in production readiness.
EVT, DVT, and PVT provide a phased path from design validation to production readiness, helping teams address issues before they become costly to fix.
Early attention to design-for-manufacturing (DFM), design-for-test (DFT), component availability, and quality processes help accelerate time to market.
Connecting engineering, testing, manufacturing, and supply chain helps support a smooth transition from prototype to scalable production.
Our experts detail how proper validation procedures can help identify risks early, improve manufacturing readiness, and accelerate time to market.
Bringing a new electronic product to market involves more than proving that a design functions as intended. As development progresses toward production, teams must ensure that a product can be manufactured consistently, tested efficiently, meet regulatory requirements, and perform reliably in the field. Issues that remain undiscovered until production are often the most expensive and disruptive to address.
Reducing Production Risk Early
While validation milestones are critical, production success depends on decisions made much earlier in development. The design process directly influences manufacturing complexity, testing requirements, certification timelines, component availability, and long-term product support.
Key considerations include:
Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Simplifying assembly and reducing production complexity.
Design for Test (DFT): Enabling efficient and repeatable testing.
Supply Chain Readiness: Evaluating component availability, lifecycle status, and sourcing alternatives.
Certification Planning: Preparing for FCC, CE, PTCRB, carrier, and industry-specific approvals.
Reliability Engineering: Addressing environmental, thermal, vibration, and long-term performance requirements.
Quality Planning: Establishing test procedures, yield targets, quality controls, and failure analysis processes.
Validation as a Key Risk Reduction Strategy
Validation plays a critical role in risk reduction during production phases. Rather than functioning as isolated milestones, EVT, DVT, and PVT help teams identify and address issues before leading to broader challenges.
What is EVT?
Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) verifies that hardware, firmware, RF, and system-level functions operate together as intended, helping uncover integration issues early and establish a strong foundation for development.
What is DVT?
Design Validation Testing (DVT) confirms that the product meets technical, environmental, and performance requirements under intended operating conditions, including RF performance, thermal characterization, and shock and vibration testing.
What is PVT?
Production Validation Testing (PVT) verifies that the product, manufacturing processes, and test procedures are ready for volume production. Testing may evaluate component tolerances, RF variability, firmware stability, OTA update performance, and process repeatability.
Each phase builds upon the previous one, providing opportunities to uncover and resolve issues before they become increasingly costly and disruptive to address.
How Does Connected Development Support the Transition to Production?
As an expert engineering design services (EDS) firm with over thirty years of success, Connected Development deeply understands the product development roadmap. Our phased approach to product development carries the engineering requirements, test capabilities, manufacturing considerations, and quality objectives from concept through engineering, validation, manufacturing, and supply chain support.
For example, during DVT, our teams evaluate interactions between hardware, firmware, RF, and mechanical systems to resolve issues before they carry into production. Additionally, we work closely with our a global network of qualified electronic manufacturing service (EMS) providers to support end-of-line testing, quality controls, production yield monitoring, and repeatable processes while supporting component availability and certifications.
To support scalable production, Connected Development works with a global network of qualified electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers, offering:
Strategic procurement and supply chain support
Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT)
Program and project management
End-of-line testing and quality controls
Production yield monitoring and process optimization
Full box-build assembly
Global certification and regulatory support
Packaging, labeling, and distribution
RMA and product lifecycle management
Discover How We Can Support Every Phase of Product Development
