FORGE Spring 2026 Manufacturing Readiness Workshops

FORGE has developed a series of Manufacturing Readiness Workshops, specifically created to address the most common gaps in readiness to scale commercial production that we have seen over the hundreds of startups we have served.. These sessions are hands-on workshops, not lectures, that guide and help companies to plan their next steps in scale. These workshops cover the following key manufacturing readiness topics:

April 7 — Identifying, Selecting, and Collaborating with the Supply Chain

This presentation explores the critical process of selecting and managing a primary contract manufacturer (CM), equipping attendees with the tools and insights to make informed decisions. It covers key topics, including evaluating CMs through structured tools, understanding value-added services, and balancing technical and personal considerations for partnership success. A practical case study and interactive discussions help participants grasp decision matrices, risk assessments, and strategies for fostering strong supplier relationships. The workshop also emphasizes effective communication and collaboration, providing actionable guidance for scaling production and maintaining quality.

April 14 — Planning for Scaling Manufacturing

This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of strategies for effectively scaling manufacturing processes for startups and small businesses. The session covers critical areas such as defining a strong business foundation, assessing manufacturing readiness, and introducing Design for Excellence (DfX) principles. It also delves into prototyping, supplier selection, and supply chain optimization, emphasizing aligning resources and planning actionable steps for scalable growth. By featuring insights from a case study, participants will gain actionable tools to streamline operations and achieve sustainable scaling.

April 21 — Design for X: So Much More Than Manufacturing

Strong products aren’t just innovative, they’re designed to be built. In this workshop, you’ll learn the five core Design for X (DfX) principles and how decisions around assembly, materials, tolerances, and sourcing directly impact cost, quality, and speed to market. We’ll explore how simplified design reduces manufacturing complexity, lowers risk, and improves reliability. You’ll walk away with a practical framework for evaluating your product through a manufacturing lens so you can catch costly issues early, streamline development, and build products that scale efficiently.

April 28 — Managing Development Processes

Hardware startups don’t fail because of a lack of innovation, they fail because product development becomes reactive, fragmented, and misaligned with manufacturing realities. This workshop helps founders intentionally manage the full journey from early prototype through pilot production and scale. You’ll learn how to structure company and product development as a strategic process, sequencing decisions around design, sourcing, tooling, testing, certifications, and supplier engagement in a way that reduces risk and preserves optionality.

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