[eternityforest]

Can you find a way to reduce the iteration itself? I've never done wearables, but last time I did a product there was almost zero iteration. There were updated versions with easier DFM, but nothing like the iterative process I'm used to with software.

I feel like something might be slightly wrong here. Are you iterating because you haven't finalized the core innovative tech? Can you develop that first, on breadboards or with lab bench equipment?

Are you iterating because of minor aesthetic tweaks? Can you just make one PCB with LEDs in all the places you might want them, turn off the unneeded ones in software, then leave them out of the final BOM?

Are there just straight up mistakes, that could be fixed with slower iteration?

Maybe it's just that I've never quite made it to the level of career success where there's a budget and time for this kind of iteration, but I still think something could improve.

[tonyarkles]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The only board I’ve ever worked on that required lots of iteration was a board for a client that could not manage to nail down requirements. We did 16 “iterations” but only fabbed 5 of them because he would often come up with new requirements before the PCBA had even started assembling the previous one. Lots of cancelling orders and resubmitting with assurances each time that “this is it, no more changes”.