Feasibility and Research

Be sure of technical feasibility before releasing the development budget. Answer question: Will it work?

Confirm feasibility

‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same’ 

This quote applies perfectly to the conflict most entrepreneurs and inventors feel at the onset of an NPI (new product development). The conflict of dreamt success versus the fear that money and time will be spent only to discover the idea isn’t feasible can haunt such people. The best answer is to calmly identify those features over which there could be doubt of feasibility and then to do the research and testing is necessary to allay the fear – before spending any money or time on development!

The EM is expert in guiding and, if necessary, doing such work. Please click the Contact Us green button below if you have interest in this. 

Understand Science and define algorithms

It will pay back in good measure to spend time on researching the science behind the technology and doing all the test work necessary to properly back it up. An simple example best backs this up. Assume a product requires to irradiate a surface with UV light – it is assumed that the required optical power density at the target is known – if not, it would be necessary to find out. Then set up tests that define the use requirement and measure what actually happens. The correlation of the tests, theory, and requirement then form the backbone of a resulting report.

The EM has conducted many such studies. Please feel free to contact us if you need assistance with this.

How? Verification and validation

From all the test work and research in the previous section, it really is necessary to document results. It is not at all uncommon that such early work forms a backbone for the Technical File necessary for CE/UKCA marking. 

There’s a very simple rule for testing the need for feasibility work: if you can’t work out how to test it or what the results should be, you need to do some feasibility studies. 

The EM often does work that might be considered a trifle off-piste, but it is happy to do it. We term this work ‘Deep Services’ – click link if you wish to learn more about this. 

If you’ve asked the EM to work on projects of this nature, we will always fully document it. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about feasibility and/or research.

Consequences of skipping feasibility work

The possible and unpalatable consequences are:

  • Later stages are reached in the project only to discover what’s been promised to potential clients and/or investors can’t be realised.
  • Money has been spent and time lost on something for which the design route and outcome have to be changed.
  • Excessive time is spent fruitlessly testing inapplicable scenarios for want of better understanding. 
  • In conclusion, expectations are unmanaged. 

 

The EM would be delighted to assist or advise . Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.