This online bootcamp of IB Accelerator and MIT’s D-Lab is an introduction to design for manufacturability and choosing manufacturers in the context of products in BoP markets. The bootcamp will run from June 6 until July 4, 2016. The course is intended for start-up or product development teams who have a working prototype of a BoP product that is ready to be designed for manufacturability and put into production. Students or professionals who are generally interested in the topic are also welcome.

Participants will be exposed to

• Product development as a structured process of risk retirement using examples of BoP products e.g. solar lighting, irrigation pumps, and medical devices in Sub-Saharan Africa, India and beyond.
• Manufacturing process common for BoP products.
• Quality considerations, including tolerances and six sigma design.
• Costing and deciding between local vs. foreign vs. regional manufacturing.

This course involves hands-on activities including product teardowns, prototyping, and engaging real manufacturing vendors.

Instructors

Eric Reynolds
Harald Quintus-Bosz
Kate Bergeron

Module 1

Understanding Risk: Product Development in BoP Markets – June 6

In this module, you will be introduced to the product development process in the context of BoP markets. You will set the stage to begin to address key technical risks, and thereby move closer towards a product that is ready for manufacturing.

Module 2

Manufacturing Processes for BoP Products – June 13

In this module, you will be introduced to common manufacturing processes for products in BoP markets. These range from printed circuit boards in China to tube rolling in South Africa to Injection Molding in Zambia. You will have the opportunity to put your knowledge to practice through a hands-on product teardown.

Module 3

Assuring Quality – June 20

Quality is of upmost importance, and perhaps especially so in BoP markets where customers may be risk adverse and vulnerable. In this module, you will be introduced to design tools used to ensure quality including tolerance analysis and size sigma design. Additionally, participants will learn about jigs, fixtures and other means of assuring quality during production.

Module 4

Cost Considerations & Local vs. Foreign Manufacturing – June 27

Affordability is critically important in BoP markets. In this module, participants will learn how to estimate part costs at various production volumes and move towards choosing manufacturing process, locations, and potential manufacturing vendors. You will begin to address the question of local vs. regional vs. foreign manufacturing for your product.

Register now!

Register on the Inclusive Business Accelerator website. The signup period closes on June 1, 2016!