How to Select an Engineering Design Services Firm
10-Step Evaluation Checklist
In this episode of Connection Point, we explore when to engage an EDS firm, what value they bring throughout the product development lifecycle, and how to determine whether partnering with an external engineering team is the right move for your project.
Key Takeaways
Evaluate EDS firms by technical expertise, RF capability, project management, and support.
Successful programs integrate certification, manufacturing, and supply chain strategy early to reduce risk and redesigns.
Connected Development combines engineering with the Exponential Technology Group ecosystem to move products from concept to production.
When Should You Hire an Engineering Design Services Firm?
Companies engage an engineering design services (EDS) firm for expertise that is unavailable in-house or to accelerate product development. An experienced EDS partner reduces technical risk, avoids certification delays, improves manufacturability, and solves complex hardware, firmware, RF, mechanical, wireless, and embedded software challenges without increasing engineering headcount.
Connected Development is an EDS firm with more than 30 years of experience supporting the electronics product development lifecycle. Backed by a team of more than 60 engineers and technical specialists, Connected Development provides turnkey engineering support, from product definition and proof of concept through hardware and firmware development, manufacturing readiness, production, and industrialization.
This EDS evaluation checklist covers key vendor-evaluation questions and the capabilities that matter most for electronic product development. Compare Connected Development's capabilities against the criteria for selecting a trusted, long-term engineering design partner.
Engineering Design Services Partner Evaluation Checklist
| Evaluation | Connected Development Capabilities |
| Can they support the entire product development process? End-to-end coverage reduces handoffs and delays. | Connected Development leverages experience in: • Product evaluation and proof of concept • System architecture • Hardware, firmware, and mechanical engineering • PCB design and prototyping • Manufacturing and sustaining engineering |
| Do they have experience solving problems like yours? Industry experience speeds delivery and reduces pitfalls. | Connected Development's engineering expertise spans: • Industrial automation and medical devices • Fleet telematics, smart metering, remote monitoring • Agriculture, automotive, consumer electronics |
| Do they have deep RF engineering expertise? RF issues often cause redesigns, certification delays, and performance issues. | Connected Development offers: • RF circuit and wireless design • Antenna integration and multi-radio coexistence • Frequency planning and RF applications • EMC/EMI mitigation and high-speed PCB design |
| Is certification addressed before design begins? Testing and certification should start early to reduce redesigns, delays, and testing costs. | Connected Development integrates certification planning through: • Regulatory requirements • Wireless certifications • Testing strategy • Compliance requirements • System architecture |
| Do they design for manufacturing? Design must scale reliably into production. | Connected Development optimizes manufacturing with: • Component availability • Design for manufacturability (DFM) • Alternate components • PCB assembly requirements • Manufacturing risks |
| Do they incorporate supply chain strategy into engineering? Long product development cycles require early visibility into component availability. | As a member of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG), Connected Development provides visibility into: • Component lifecycle status • Lead times • Obsolescence risks • Alternate sourcing • BOM optimization |
| Do they validate products in real-world conditions? Testing beyond prototypes ensures real-world reliability. | Connected Development's validation capabilities cover: • Functional testing • Environmental testing • RF performance • Failure diagnostics • Real-world operating conditions • Real-time monitoring |
| Will they support your product after launch? Products evolve after release and require ongoing support. | Connected Development delivers ongoing support through: • Sustaining engineering • Firmware updates • Hardware revisions • Component substitutions • Legacy network migrations • Field diagnostics |
| Do they follow a structured development process? Structured execution improves predictability and reduces risk. | Connected Development's phased product development process includes: • Discovery • Phase Zero planning • Architecture and design reviews • Prototype validation • Certification • Manufacturing readiness • Production support |
| Do they reduce overall project risk? Strong partners reduce uncertainty, improve cost, speed, and outcomes. | Utilizing Connected Development as an EDS partner helps reduce: • Technical risk • Certification delays • RF performance issues • Manufacturing challenges • Supply chain disruptions • Product quality concerns |
Compare capabilities, not just claims.
Our experts are ready to discuss your project and show how Connected Development's engineering expertise, manufacturing readiness, and end-to-end product development support compares to your current or prospective design partner. We’ll review your requirements, identify design, certification, and supply chain risks, and recommend the path to a successful product launch.