How Pre-Compliance Saves Time and Money: An Insider’s Guide to Smarter Product Development

While many manufacturers focus on product design, leaving compliance considerations to be dealt with later, this approach often costs more in the long run.

From unexpected redesigns, added time in compliance labs, and delays in bringing your product to market, you’re looking at substantial adjustments to your budget and your timeline.

Pre-compliance testing flags potential compliance issues early, reducing the chance of setbacks when your product reaches production. Let’s take a closer look at how integrating pre-compliance into the product development process saves time and money.

Reduce risk of re-designing your product during testing

The risk of a design failing increases the longer you delay testing. Designers who wait until the end of a project are essentially betting everything on the skill and experience of their team. It’s like baking a multi-tiered cake without bothering to taste test only to discover after all the tiers are baked that you forgot to add enough sugar. This could have easily been avoided if you’d been testing along the way.

Testing and samples can get pricey, especially if your product doesn’t pass on the first try, requiring multiple rounds of testing along with design changes. But when pre-testing is built into the development process, you gain access to a testing chamber and expert guidance throughout the entire project, saving you time and money.

Ensure that your product development process is on track

Depending on the type of product you’re designing, who it’s for, and where it’s intended to be used, your product development process may look very different.

The following are some questions to ask yourself during the product development phase to help guide your process and make sure it aligns with the right compliance requirements.

• In which countries or geographical regions do you want your product to be sold? Consider whether these markets have specific regulations and requirements that could impact your design.
• In which environment will your product be used? For example, a product designed for office use will have vastly different compliance requirements than one intended for harsh environments like the oil and gas industry.
• Which critical components is your product made up of? The materials and parts your product is made up of can significantly affect compliance and performance standards.

By integrating pre-compliance testing into your workflow, you can monitor progress and adjust as needed, avoiding costly delays and speeding up your project lifecycle.

Use test results as basis for your certification and international approval

Without testing, you can’t be sure where issues might arise. This can lead to unnecessary overengineering that reduces the utility of a product.

For example, Henry Ford had engineers examine cars in scrap yards to identify overengineered components still in good condition. This allowed his team to downgrade specifications and save costs. The same approach can be applied to pre-compliance testing.

The insights gained from pre-compliance testing can streamline the certification process, ensuring your product meets the necessary standards for global markets and passes compliance tests with ease.

How Nemko can help

Nemko offers comprehensive pre-compliance services to help you navigate every step of the regulatory process. From pre-evaluation and pre-testing to certification and international approval recommendations, we ensure your product meets all the right requirements.

Our certification and approval recommendations also provide a clear regulatory path for your product’s target markets, streamlining your map-to-market strategy and ensuring a smooth launch without free of frustrating setbacks.

We assist in identifying the specific standards relevant to your product, making the process more efficient. Whether you’re a product designer, manufacturer, or distributor, our team of compliance engineers and regulatory experts is here to help with:

• In-depth knowledge of the latest national and international regulations to ensure your product stays compliant
• Application and interpretation of directives and product standards tailored to your needs
• Thorough reviews of your documentation and product design
• Expert guidance for smooth testing, verification, and certification

From initial design and prototype testing to production and market launch, Nemko provides the expertise you need to navigate regulatory requirements with confidence.