Tools of the Trade

Market Validation: You are Designing a Product No One Will Buy

Market Validation: You are Designing a Product No One Will Buy

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing companies’ existing product development team with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade about market validation, Finish Line describes why startups need to validate their products before pouring money…

Techno-Economic Analysis: A Tool for Lean Startups

Techno-Economic Analysis: A Tool for Lean Startups

The team of experienced engineers at Next Rung Technology, a Friend of FORGE partner, collaborates with growth-stage companies creating sustainable technologies to support them through the range of complex challenges faced in commercialization. In this Tools of the Trade, Next Rung Technology goes in-depth on how lean startups can use techno-economic modeling to position themselves…

New Product Introduction: Does your Supplier Excel at NPI?

New Product Introduction: Does your Supplier Excel at NPI?

Plastics Manufacturing Resources, a FORGE partner, connects companies to a wide range of plastics manufacturing options, from injection and blow molding to additive manufacturing, thermoforming and more. In this Tools of the Trade, they share one thing they’ve learned over years in the industry: how to assess a plastics supplier’s ability to launch new products….

Top 10 Reasons Why Product Development Projects Fail

Top 10 Reasons Why Product Development Projects Fail

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing companies’ existing product development team with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade, Finish Line describes – from hard-earned experience – the major reasons product development projects go belly…

How to Select a Contract Manufacturer: a 9-Point Checklist

How to Select a Contract Manufacturer: a 9-Point Checklist

Product Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, is a contract manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment. In this Tools of the Trade, Product Resources describes the nine steps to select a contract manufacturer for your innovative product. When you select a contract manufacturer, you are, in many ways,…

7 HR Tips for Sustainable Tech Startups

7 HR Tips for Sustainable Tech Startups

The team of experienced engineers at Next Rung Technology, a Friend of FORGE partner, partners with growth-stage companies creating sustainable technologies to support them through the range of complex challenges faced in commercialization. In this Tools of the Trade, Next Rung Technology Senior Human Resources Consultant Paula Mayhew gives you her top seven HR tips…

Invention Versus Engineering

Invention Versus Engineering

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing your existing product development team with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade, Finish Line goes over the difference between invention and engineering, and knowing why invention versus engineering…

Understanding Quality Certifications for Injection Molders

Understanding Quality Certifications for Injection Molders

Plastics Manufacturing Resources, a FORGE partner, connects companies to a wide range of plastics manufacturing options, from injection and blow molding to additive manufacturing, thermoforming and more. In this Tools of the Trade, they explain quality management systems and certifications for plastics manufacturing. These are the quality certifications for injection molders you should know! Quality…

How Contract Manufacturing Companies Fit in the Supply Chain

How Contract Manufacturing Companies Fit in the Supply Chain

Product Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, is a contract manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment. In this Tools of the Trade, Product Resources explains contract manufacturing companies’ position in the complex network we call the regional supply chain ecosystem. The contract manufacturing industry has exploded over the…

Tech Tip: Most Common Causes of Contactor Chatter and Noise

Tech Tip: Most Common Causes of Contactor Chatter and Noise

Pearse Bertram, a FORGE Iron partner, is an industry-leading provider of distribution and contract manufacturing services for automation and process control solutions. In this Tools of the Trade, Pearse Bertram writes about the three reasons for undesirable contactor chatter and noise and what to do about them. QUESTION: What are the possible reasons for unexpected…