In the fast-paced world of technology, there is a constant push to get products out the door as quickly as possible. But sometimes, the urge to speed things up can backfire spectacularly. An experience with a client who decided to skip the usual hardware development phases – like Engineering Verification Test (EVT), Design Verification Test (DVT), and Production Verification Test (PVT) – serves as a powerful reminder that shortcuts in this area can be incredibly costly.
The fallout from this decision was significant. Rework became a major undertaking, eating up countless engineering hours. Imagine, teams spending hours opening up perfectly packaged devices, figuring out what went wrong, making repairs, and then retesting everything. It is a huge drain on resources and a major disruption to the team's workflow. And let's not forget the material costs – replacing faulty parts, potentially even scrapping entire boards – it all adds up quickly.
Furthermore, the unforeseen delays caused by this extensive rework have a cascading effect on the entire project timeline. Missed deadlines can severely impact critical launch dates, potentially delaying market entry and allowing competitors to gain a significant edge. It also throws a wrench into the manufacturing, marketing, and sales plans, creating a domino effect of problems.
Beyond the financial implications, these delays and the constant firefighting that ensues can take a significant toll on team morale. Engineers can become demoralized by the constant setbacks and the pressure to constantly "put out fires." This can lead to decreased motivation, increased burnout, and even contribute to higher staff turnover, ultimately impacting the company's ability to retain top talent.
Perhaps most critically, the product failures resulting from this rushed approach can inflict significant damage to the company's reputation and erode customer trust. Imagine the frustration for customers who receive a faulty product. It can seriously damage the company's image and make it harder to win back those customers' trust in the future.
This whole experience is a powerful reminder that the old saying "slow and steady wins the race" really holds true in hardware development. Each phase of testing serves a crucial purpose. EVT helps identify and fix fundamental design flaws, DVT ensures everything works smoothly in different environments, and PVT fine-tunes the manufacturing process. By taking the time to do things right at each stage, you are not just preventing headaches down the line, you are building a solid foundation for a high-quality product that your customers will love.
So, while the pressure to rush things might be intense, it is crucial to resist the temptation to cut corners. By embracing a disciplined and methodical approach to hardware development, companies can avoid the hidden costs of "fast and cheap," including the significant impact on team morale and the potential for long-term damage to company culture, and ensure the long-term success of their products.
Torence Lu is COO of Spanner.
For over 30 years, Torence has brought to life innovative products for Fortune 500 companies, crowd-funded entrepreneurs, and emerging start-ups including LeapFrog, Intel, Harry’s, Target, ChargePoint, Lytro, and Fitbit. Since childhood, he has been fascinated by beautifully designed and exquisitely engineered products. Outside of work, you’ll find Torence playing his guitar at church, and making plans to travel with family.
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