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This is one of the most frequent questions our team at ManGo Product Design gets asked. Turning an idea into a successful product and getting it to market is an exciting but complex journey that requires careful planning, resources, and patience. There’s always the possibility that some of the product development steps may take longer than anticipated, especially when it comes to new innovations. Key phases in the product development timeline include design, engineering, prototyping, setting up manufacturing, testing, certification and branding, among others. Although timelines vary for each product, this blog will walk you through the typical stages and their estimated durations. We’ll also share some tips and tricks on how we at ManGo can help speed up the process.
The following product development steps are executed in chronological order, with the timelines reflecting projects of average complexity. For groundbreaking innovations, however, these timelines are often significantly longer and much harder to predict.
Essential for establishing a strong foundation in any product development project. Sometimes, clients have already invested significant effort in this product development step, meaning we only need to contribute minimally. However, if this phase still needs to be completed, it involves market research, user analysis, regulatory reviews and competitor benchmarking to ensure a thorough understanding of your product’s needs. This phase ensures your product aligns with market demands and user expectations, paving the way for a successful design and development process. Typically, this step in the product development timeline takes between 2 weeks and 2 months, very much depending on the availability of third parties such as regulatory bodies, research stakeholders or patent lawyers for example.
This product development step is all about generating and exploring various concepts. Depending on the complexity of the product, this phase typically lasts between 1 to 3 months. During this phase, our design team brainstorms ideas, creates sketches, develops concept 3D CAD models, render presentations and conducts research to determine the best design directions to present to clients. A common delay in this stage often stems from the decision-making process of clients, choosing the right direction can be challenging, especially when multiple strong proposals are on the table.
After finalizing the concept design, the next step in the product development timeline is building a prototype. This involves creating a functional version of the product that can be tested for potential issues or flaws. The prototyping phase can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for most projects, depending on the complexity. Even with simple products, multiple rounds of prototypes are often necessary to refine the design, while more complex projects can extend timelines significantly. This is especially true for technical products that rely on specific components like sensors, actuators, PCBA’s, screens or pumps, which can have long lead times, sometimes taking months to arrive. If a prototype doesn't perform as expected, updating the design and sourcing new components can push development timelines by several weeks. Additionally, testing prototypes in real-world conditions, including assessing wear and tear, is crucial and should not be rushed for optimal results. And for many products once a final working prototype has been accomplished it might be required to go through certification procedures with a notified body, a process that in and by itself can already take many months.
This product development step is crucial for ensuring your product is ready for efficient, large-scale production. It always comes after prototyping (and certification, if required) because the manufacturing techniques used in prototyping differ significantly from those used in mass production. Mass manufacturing requires a different design approach, and components can only be produced after investing in (often costly) molds. In this phase, we refine the design to simplify assembly, reduce production costs, and ensure reliability without sacrificing quality or functionality. By optimizing materials, components, and manufacturing processes, this step in the product development timeline plays a vital role in streamlining the subsequent manufacturing process.
Once the DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) stage is completed, your design is ready for production. This is the most time-consuming phase in bringing a product to market, typically lasting between 3 to 12 months, depending on the product’s complexity and the chosen manufacturing location. This stage involves creating molds, establishing the supply chain, developing production lines, and conducting thorough quality control tests. As Elon Musk once said, “manufacturing is underrated and design is overrated, as setting up the production system takes up to 10,000% more work.” At ManGo Product Design, we've developed a network of reliable factories that we connect our clients with, but even so, this product development step always requires significant time and effort.
In product development, the timeline is heavily influenced by the balance of scope, budget, and time—the project management triangle. Increasing the budget often allows for shorter timelines, as more resources can be allocated, such as faster (localized) prototyping, additional manpower or quicker access to materials. On the other hand, reducing the project scope by removing complex functionalities of a product can also significantly speed up development, as simpler designs take far less time to execute. At ManGo Product Design, we help our clients navigate these trade-offs, ensuring the development process remains efficient while meeting their product goals.
In summary, bringing a product to market involves a multi-stage, complex process that can take time and present significant challenges. From idea generation to design and prototyping, tooling and manufacturing, distribution and marketing, each stage comes with its own set of challenges and time-consuming tasks. However, this process becomes more manageable if you break it down into product development steps and systematically tackle each one of them. Ultimately, budget and development scope are the keys to shortening the product development timeline. With our careful planning, expert suppliers and diligent execution, bringing a product to market can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences our clients can have.
Curious about your potential product development timeline? Contact us by phone, our online form or send an e-mail to:
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