What Does Product Development for Manufacturing Cost?

Product development for manufacturing investment varies significantly based on product complexity, development scope, and industry requirements.

Cost Ranges by Complexity:

Simple Products (£25,000 - £75,000):

• Single component or simple assembly
• Standard materials and processes
• Minimal engineering analysis
• Basic prototyping (3-5 iterations)
• No regulatory requirements

Moderate Products (£75,000 - £150,000):

• Multi-component assemblies
• Custom engineering and analysis
• Moderate prototyping (5-10 iterations)
• Standard compliance testing
• Multiple manufacturing processes

Complex Products (£150,000 - £300,000):

• Sophisticated mechanical/electrical systems
• Extensive engineering and simulation
• Comprehensive prototyping and testing
• Regulatory certification (CE, UL)
• Supply chain development

Highly Complex Products (£300,000 - £500,000+):

• Novel technology development
• Multiple engineering disciplines
• Extensive regulatory pathways
• Clinical trials (medical)
• Complex system integration

Cost Breakdown (Typical Project):

• Discovery & Strategy: 5-10%
• Concept Development: 10-15%
• Design & Engineering: 30-40%
• Prototyping & Testing: 20-25%
• Production Transfer: 15-20%

Additional Considerations:

• Production tooling is typically separate (£10,000-£250,000+)
• Regulatory testing and certification fees
• Patent and IP protection costs
• Initial production run costs