Hi, I really appreciate this board, so thanks in advance.

I own a company that services primarily offshore oil and gas companies in the gulf of mexico.

We have been designing and building hardware that goes on offshore platforms for several years. Initially they were built so that we could collect data at the edge that we needed to fuel the algorithms that we use to deliver the type of analytics our clients are looking for.

However, as we have iterated through releases it is now clear we have a solution that could become a product all in and of itself.

My question is this, what would the process be to take my existing hardware kits (that are made in our shop) to a proper product that is (relatively) mass produced, hardened and bulletproof?


I am certain there are companies out there that do this, I just am not really sure where to even start

I might suggest you visit one of the trade shows that Design-2-Part puts on across the country.

In one room you can visit with dozens of companies that do all sorts of contract manufacturing. Generally speaking, these companies have to have a reputation for protecting their customers' IP, or they'll soon be a pariah in the industry. (That said, make sure you have legal protections in place).

When I ran a manufacturing company I'd receive brochures from these guys at least once a year. While I was always tempted to go, I had spent many years building my own group of sub-contractors and really only did final assembly and customization in house, so I didn't really need to go. We protected ourselves by splitting the different types of work between different subs.

Check it out here:

Design-2-Part Trade Shows

Good luck. I always felt that selling a proprietary manufactured product was the best place to be in the manufacturing world.

Of course, you'll always have guys who want to copy what you've done. Success brings imitation.