Checklist
OEM Project Checklist For Consumer Audio
What to settle before tooling is cut, in the order it should be settled
Settle These Before Steel Is Cut
Most delays in a consumer audio programme trace back to a decision that was left open too long. This checklist follows the order our own development process uses, so each item is resolved while it is still cheap to change.
1. Commercial Frame
- Target retail price and channel
- Destination markets, because certification scope follows the market
- Launch date and the buying window it has to hit
- Tooling ownership, agreed in writing before the mould is cut
2. Product Definition
- Category and platform: which of our existing platforms is the starting point
- Rated power, battery capacity and expected runtime, with the measurement condition stated
- Connector set for soundbars, or wearing style for earbuds and headphones
- Features that change the PCB, such as a battery display, ENC, NFC or a light effect
3. Industrial Design
- Housing material family: wood, fabric, metal, plastic, ceramic
- Colourways, with Pantone references
- Logo placement and decoration method: silk screen or laser engraving
- Whether the design is yours, ours, or a modification of an existing platform
4. Structure And Tooling
- Design for manufacture review with the molding team
- Acoustic volume confirmed against the target sound
- Assembly sequence and service access
- Trial shot approval criteria, dimensional and cosmetic
5. Verification
- Which tests are required and which are nice to have
- Certification scope and who holds the certificate
- Approval sample retained as the production reference
- Pilot batch size and acceptance criteria
6. Supply
- Order quantity and delivery schedule against the 1 to 3 week published lead time
- Retail carton and master carton specification
- Barcode, country of origin and label requirements
- Incoterms and the logistics route
Send It Over
If you have this information, send it by WhatsApp or email and we can quote against it. If you have half of it, send that; the gaps are usually the most useful part of the first conversation.
Related Reading
- Soundbar Connectivity Guide HDMI ARC Optical And Coaxial — Which television connection to specify, and what happens when you leave one out
- ENC And Low Latency Explained For TWS Earbud Buyers — What the two most quoted earbud features actually change for the end user
- How To Choose A Conference Speakerphone — Match the microphone array to the table, then check the power budget
- Smart Ring Materials And Sensors — Ceramic, enamel and antibacterial stainless steel, and what each sensor actually reports
- Download Center — Catalogs and datasheets as PDF
Questions On This Topic
What is the minimum I need before you can quote?
Category, target price, quantity and destination market are enough for a first quotation. Everything else can be resolved during development.
How do I send drawings and artwork?
By WhatsApp or email. We do not use web upload forms.
Can I start from one of your existing products?
Yes, and it is the fastest route. Several ranges, including the fabric wrap soundbars, are already published as customisable.
Specify It With Us
Send your requirement and we will tell you which platform fits and what has to be tooled.