These are some of the many questions and considerations that all parties in an injection molded part project must understand and agree upon before starting a job.

It may sound a bit redundant and tedious, but at FRS we even recommend developing a checklist—on paper, even—with all of the questions and requirements that the designer or engineer and injection molding contractor should understand and agree upon before getting started. Some questions that should be on your checklist include:

What is the desired part(s) and its description?
What is the size and shape of the part?
Who and what is the part for?
How will it look? What are the aesthetic and brand identity considerations?
What are the strength and rigidity requirements of the part?
What, if any, fastening/assembly methods are to be used?
What is the optimal cost per part?
How many parts do I need?
What is the expected lifespan of the part?
These tips provide the design engineer with a significant head start on his or her injection molded part project. The selected injection molding partner, potential end-users of the part, and all of the project stakeholders will appreciate all the careful decision-making and heavy lifting up front that makes the injection molding project run smoothly, resulting in a part that’s delivered on time and on budget.