Venue: EY, West Park, Leeds LS16 6RF
For this free full-day event we’ve drawn in technical expertise from electronics and engineering designers and producers as well as marketing and commercial expertise to provide an in-depth programme looking at Product Development - from Possibility to Reality!
This stimulating event is driven by the realisation that many in small companies get hooked by a ‘great’ idea, but often need to step back to see the bigger picture. It’s aimed at anyone and everyone involved in small enterprises with an electronics focus, from engineers through to entrepreneurs.
Far too often an SME will employ one or two electronics engineers and place on their shoulders the weight of developing the company’s future products. This can be a heavy burden to bear; job security and the perception they need to be indispensable can often cause them to try to keep everything ‘in house’ (known as the ‘read-a-book’ syndrome) which ultimately leads to a product that nearly always bears a striking resemblance to a ‘circuit board in a biscuit tin’!
Product design engineering and Prototype and tooling, with David Wylie of Wylie3d.
David will take us through the Product Design and Engineering Process from Idea to Production. Before lunch he will look at * the Concept Generation, * Initial CAD (Computer Aided Design), * Test Rig and * Design Refinement (Intermediate CAD) stages. After lunch he will discuss * Prototyping; * Multiple Prototyping; * Design for Manufacture; * Toolmaking and Production. He will also demonstrate samples of Rapid Prototyping, handmade prototypes and production mouldings.
David is a qualified engineer and product designer having worked both in house and as a consultant for 17 years. He has helped businesses develop products such as: lawnmowers; communication devices; GPS GSM vehicle trackers; electrostatic paint guns; network fault locators; and sensing equipment. David has also been a guest lecturer at Glasgow University and The Glasgow School of Art for nine years where he mentors final year engineers and product designers as well as lecturing on specific subjects such as design process and management, aesthetics, CAD, prototyping, tool-making and production.
Electronics design process and Different technologies for different applications, with Geoffrey Swales of BioDigital
In the first session Geoffrey looks at the design process, considering: * Functional Specifications; * Proposal and Quote; * Prototype Development; * Evaluation; * Production; and * EMC and other legislation.
In the second part the different technologies required will be reviewed, including: * Microcontrollers; * Aspects of LED or LCD; * Buttons, Keypads and Touch Screens; * Power Sources; * Computer Interfacing; and * Wireless.
BioDigital was set up by Geoffrey Swales in 2002 to provide electronics design services. Over the past few years it has developed to embrace embedded firmware, Windows software and product manufacture. Having graduating as a mechanical engineer, Geoffrey had previously worked as a development engineer, designing high-end contamination instruments for the hydraulics industry.
Identifying, protecting, exploiting and enforcing IP Rights, with Rob Lucas of Shulmans solicitors
Rob Lucas will first dispel some common myths about intellectual property rights and provide practical guidance on ensuring you retain the rights created by and on behalf of your business. In the second part of his talk he will concentrate on extracting value from your IP rights and dealing with disputes, should these arise.
Rob is a commercial solicitor at Shulmans advsing across the full range of IP rights, including identifying, securing and protecting rights, exploiting rights and taking action should rights be infringed.
Carrying out market research and Marketing your Business, with Mike Westaway of Shrewdd Marketing
You may have a great idea for a product, but how do you know if there’s a market for it, and how do you tell the right people that it exists? Mike Westaway, from Shrewdd Marketing in Halifax, addresses these questions; starting off the day considering how to Carry Out Market Research, which involves understanding: * What Market Research is; * Primary and Secondary Market Research; and * How to do it yourself!
Mike will also round up the event looking at how to Market Your Business, including: * Building your marketing plan; * Assessing what marketing channels and options are best for your business; * Planning, budgeting and executing your strategy; and * Measuring the effectiveness of your marketing activity.
Mike is business development director at Shrewdd having previously worked as a journalist on regional newspapers.
Programme:
09:30 – Registration; Tea/Coffee
10:00 – Introduction, Dave Williams (EY)
10:05 – Carrying out market research, Mike Westaway
10:30 – Identifying and Protecting IP Rights, Rob Lucas
11:00 – Morning break
11:15 – Exploiting and Enforcing IP Rights, Rob Lucas
11:45 – Product design engineering, David Wylie
12:30 – Networking and buffet lunch
1:15 – Prototype and tooling, David Wylie
1:45 – Overview of the electronics design process, Geoffrey Swales
2:15 – Afternoon break
2:30 – Different technologies for different applications, Geoffrey Swales
3:00 – Marketing your business, Mike Westaway
3:30 – Round-up / Q&As
3:50 – Finish
Places for this free event are limited so registration, using the booking form below is essential.
