From prototype to series production — the phases of development.

Between the first idea and a series product lie several maturity levels. Knowing them lets you plan budget, time and testing realistically — and avoid expensive surprises shortly before series production.

Have electronics developed

1. Proof of Concept

Secure the critical technical assumption first: does the principle work at all? This is about feasibility, not elegance — often with evaluation boards and test setups.

2. Functional sample / A-sample

The first in-house circuit and firmware that demonstrate the function. Form factor and manufacturability still take a back seat; the focus is on showing that the specification can be met.

3. B-sample

Near-series hardware: the final EMC-compliant layout, real components, mechanical integration. This is where EMC pre-compliance sensibly begins — finding faults here is many times cheaper than after series release.

4. Design for Manufacturing (DfM)

The design is made suitable for production and testing: assemblability, test points, tolerances, component availability. The goal is reproducible, economical manufacturing.

5. C-sample & series release

Near-series production, final verification and validation (see V-model), accredited EMC/safety testing, CE — then release. Clean testing across all phases is the common thread.

Frequently asked questions

When should EMC come into play?

As early as possible — ideally already in the layout (EMC-compliant design) and, at the latest, on the near-series B-sample via pre-compliance. The later an EMC problem is discovered, the more expensive the correction becomes.

Do I need all sample stages?

Not necessarily — the maturity plan depends on risk, volume and industry. We tailor the phases to your product rather than working through a rigid scheme.