Hardware Product Notes

Manufacturing Terms

PDS

Product Design Specification

First step for any product is the product design specification (PDS). This document should fully define the product in every aspect that is meaningful.

ODM

Original Design Manufacturer

ODMs will take your specification and will then design and manufacture the product. They are basically a deisgn house and OEM in one. You pay for the fact that they are doing all of the design work, but they can be efficient and play to their manufacturing strengths. Adorable ODMs can be hard to find in the US, and the major challenge with overseas ODMs is communication of the specification.

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEMs do not do design work, they manufacture. You need to do come to the OEM with a fully realized design (CAD files, part drawings, Gerber files, etc).

RFQ

Request for Quote

The process through which you get prices and bids from suppliers and manufacturers. Requires a RFQ package that contains all the design files needed to suppliers to make a cost estimation.

Cost Estimates

• Single Design Review: $3-5000
• FCC Certication: $5-8000

General Notes

• Hand reworking is expensive. Buying a PCBA and having it reworked is a manual and labor intensive process, and it will most often be less expensive to have your own PCBA designed and produced specifically for you.