How Owens Design Works

If you’re an OEM, we’ll discuss your IP and product concept – under NDA and in the strictest confidence. If you’re a factory, we’ll discuss the manual process you want to automate.

This phase includes mutual vetting of the project to ensure mutual success. Owens Design has a 100% track record of project delivery, in part because we are as selective about the projects we take on as our customers are in choosing Owens Design as their design and build partner.

To establish the necessary technical and business alignment, Owens Design will consider your business, key technical challenges, cost, schedule demands, and vision for the project. We'll discuss objectives, obstacles, timelines, and more to gain a comprehensive understanding of what you want to achieve.

If both parties agree there is a mutual fit, we will propose a Phase 1 as a low-cost, low-risk way to establish your project concept along with cost and timelines. If not, we will recommend an alternative.

Outcome: understand your needs, establish if there is technical and business alignment, and identify the best path to address your needs – even if this is not Owens Design.

Owens Design will work with you to identify the key areas of focus for your project, including:

• Footprint
• Throughput
• POP recommendations
• Key tolerance analysis
• Design to cost targets
• Alternate architectures
• Human interface to the tool

During the Phase 1 effort, the following will be completed:

• Conceptual layout and 3D model
• Tool specification (with measures of success)
• Functional requirements software specification (FRS)
• Risk assessment
• Identification of responsibilities
• Prototype development schedule
• Firm pricing for first prototype and associated non-recurring engineering (NRE)
• Preliminary test plan

Throughout this process, the Owens Design team will provide expert guidance on how to manage tradeoffs – and guide you to the best solution.

Outcome: you will be able to visualize your concept, along with knowing the cost of tool development and build, how long it will take, and how success will be measured.

Learn more about the benefits of a Phase 1

Once your concept has been approved, you can count on Owens Design to:

• Create a detailed design plan that includes the specifications for your project
• Develop controls and HMI software
• Source the materials and latest technology, leveraging our long-term supply chain relationships and experience
• Assemble the hardware and integrate the software
• Conduct thorough testing and quality assurance to ensure that the prototype is fully functional and meets your expectations
• Deliver a prototype to you that is both visually appealing and highly functional
• Provide training and support to ensure you get the most out of your new prototype – through beta testing and pilot projects

We will provide regular updates and progress reports to keep you informed throughout the process. You will also be welcome to visit our facility to observe and take part in the process.

Outcome: rapid design and development of your prototype so that your concept is ready for scaled manufacturing.

Owens Design is capable of rapidly scaling your production by creating the infrastructure and fulfilling both facility and labor requirements.

As your equipment is being produced by Owens Design, you can expect us to:

• Manage the entire supply chain and manufacturing process
• Drop-ship from our facility to your customers
• Continuously optimize the design based on input from your customers
• Identify ways to reduce both BOM cost and overall COGS as economies of scale are achieved
• Implement feature upgrades and redesign the equipment
• Manage parts obsolescence issues through end-of-life (EOL)
• Allow you and your customers to visit our facility at any stage

Should you decide to transfer production to Asia, we will facilitate the process, though we recommend waiting for your product to be stable. Note: half of all products designed by us and transferred to Asia are transferred back to Owens Design – it’s increasingly difficult to achieve any advantage in transferring complex tools to Asia.

Outcome: scaled production of your equipment and commercial success.