- Rapid prototyping: Using 3D printing, CNC machining, and mold making and casting is an excellent option for speeding the development of a prototype. These quick prototypes allow creators to test and refine their designs over and over again until they have the perfect product.
- Rapid tooling: Rapid tooling uses many of the same processes as rapid prototyping, but in this case, the creator develops the tools they need for manufacturing in a fraction of the time when compared to traditional methods.
- Contract manufacturing: Usually, it would take months or even years to source all the machinery needed to establish a manufacturing process. Aside from that, the creator would also have to hire skilled labor to operate these machines. Contract manufacturing allows a creator to leverage someone else’s manufacturing floor and their labor to create their products on a mass scale. This is especially important in medical product manufacturing, as the products require highly exacting specifications.
When time is of the essence, rapid prototyping and tooling can help creators develop their products quickly, while contract manufacturing speeds it to market. In the development of the Live Lung Ultrasound Training Model, such processes were imperative to ensure the device could get in the hands of those who needed it quickly. Moreover, security and discretion during the manufacturing process were necessary, as this was a proprietary project. By working with an experienced partner, Jay Kahlon was able to expedite medical device product development and provide a tool necessary to respond to a worldwide pandemic.