List the uncertainties that could stop the project
Separate technical uncertainty from information that the customer can provide. Examples include whether a sample can be handled reliably, whether a mechanism fits the required envelope or whether an essential component is available. Rank those questions by their effect on the proposed function and the next investment.
Compare practical operating principles
Consider more than one route where the problem permits it. Review interfaces, manufacturing options, controls responsibilities and available component information. The aim is to find a defensible direction and record its assumptions. A preliminary concept is a discussion output, not a completed design or a promise of tested performance.
Use focused early evidence
A limited trial or simple test arrangement may resolve an important uncertainty without building the full equipment. Define the sample, condition and observation needed before starting. Record what the trial demonstrates and what it leaves unanswered, so the result is not expanded into a claim about durability or production readiness.
Make the next decision explicit
Summarize the preferred route, unresolved issues and proposed next scope. A feasibility stage may lead to concept development, another focused trial or a revised requirement. QDM can quote this work separately from prototype manufacture, with deliverables, review points and specialist inputs agreed for the project.
What to define for the project.
| Decision | What to define | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Question that could change the route | Focuses the assessment |
| Options | Practical operating principles | Supports comparison |
| Trial | Sample, condition and observation | Provides targeted evidence |
| Assumptions | Information not yet confirmed | Defines the limits |
| Decision | Continue, revise or investigate | Connects to the next stage |
These notes support an initial engineering discussion. Material grades, manufacturing routes, dimensions and acceptance criteria are selected for the actual application and confirmed in the project specification.
Discuss the engineering scope
Choose the service that matches the next stage of your part, device or machine project.