Product Design
Expert Product Design Services
Comprehensive Engineering Support for Metal Fabrication
Based in Warren, Rhode Island, we work with customers throughout New England and across the United States to transform ideas into manufacturable, functional, and cost-effective metal components. Whether you’re starting with a napkin sketch, a physical sample, or existing CAD files that need refinement, our engineering team provides the design support you need to bring your project to life.
Our product design services integrate seamlessly with our fiber laser cutting, CNC press brake bending, and machining capabilities. This means the parts we design aren’t just theoretically sound—they’re optimized for the equipment and processes that will actually produce them.
Four Core Design Approaches
Creating Part Models and Drawings
We translate your concepts into precise 3D representations and technical documentation. Starting from an idea, hand-drawn sketch, or physical part sample, our engineering team develops detailed CAD models and manufacturing drawings that ensure your parts are functional, manufacturable, and meet your specifications.
Our CAD services include geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to communicate design intent clearly and maintain tight tolerances throughout production.
Design for Manufacturing
Design for Manufacturing focuses on optimizing your parts for ease of production while maintaining quality. We analyze your designs through the lens of our manufacturing capabilities, identifying opportunities to simplify fabrication processes, reduce production time, and improve scalability.
By aligning your product design with our fiber laser cutting and press brake bending equipment, we help eliminate potential manufacturing challenges before they reach the shop floor. This approach reduces waste, ensures efficient assembly, and minimizes the risk of production delays.
Other Services
Design for Cost Effectiveness
Quality shouldn't break the budget. Our design for cost effectiveness service focuses on minimizing production expenses without compromising functionality or durability. We optimize material selection, simplify manufacturing processes, and improve assembly efficiency to help you achieve competitive pricing while maximizing value.
This engineering support is particularly valuable for companies managing tight margins or developing products for cost-sensitive markets. We'll work with you to find the right balance between performance requirements and budget constraints.
Design for Functionality
Every part must perform its intended purpose reliably. Our design for functionality approach ensures your components meet user needs and performance requirements through thoughtful engineering, appropriate material selection, and usability considerations.
We balance form, function, and practicality to create solutions that are both efficient and intuitive for end users. Whether you're developing enclosures, brackets, panels, or complex assemblies, we help you optimize designs for real-world application.
Why Choose Ward's for Product Design Consulting
- CEO and Co-founder Kiffin Ward is a mechanical and product engineer who has managed every stage of product development from start to finish, including project scoping, design, material selection, fabrication, finishing, quality control, delivery, maintenance, and customer relations. He has designed and fabricated a wide range of custom prototypes and successful, patented products across industries.
- Engineering team with hands-on manufacturing experience across the entire production lifecycle
- Expertise in aerospace, defense, construction, electronics, and technology industries
- Reduced unit costs by up to 67% through design optimization for customers
- Created production-ready drawings from photos and verbal descriptions
- Troubleshot and fabricated custom parts that enabled critical machines to run after extensive downtimes
- Developed rapid solutions when off-the-shelf components failed on job sites
Flexible Partnership for Your Production Needs
We understand that every project is different. Some customers need complete design services from concept to production. Others have existing files that need optimization for manufacturability. We adapt to your specific situation.
There’s no minimum order quantity, so whether you’re prototyping a new product or running production volumes, we provide the same level of engineering attention. Our typical lead time is two weeks or less, with rush services available when your timeline demands it.
From Design to Delivered Parts
Our product design services integrate with our full fabrication capabilities, creating a streamlined path from engineering to finished components. Once designs are finalized, we can immediately move to production using our 3kW fiber laser cutter, 190-ton CNC press brake, machining, and finishing equipment.
This integrated approach eliminates the coordination challenges and delays that come from working with separate design firms and fabrication shops. You get faster turnaround, better communication, and parts that match your specifications exactly.
Industries We Serve
Our metal fabrication services support manufacturers across diverse sectors who demand quality, reliability, and speed:
Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing:
Aircraft components requiring strict quality regulation, tight tolerances and certification compliance
Electrical Components & Electronics Enclosure Fabrication:
Tiny electrical components, as well as electronic enclosures, brackets, and housings.
Marine Industry Fabrication:
Marine grade metal parts and corrosion-resistant components
Green Energy Manufacturing:
Solar panel frames and wind energy components
Robotics & Automation Parts:
Custom robotic sensor components and automation structural elements
Medical Device Components:
Medical grade metal parts with stringent quality requirements
Industrial Equipment Manufacturing:
Heavy machinery components and industrial brackets
Why Partner with Our Rhode Island Metal Fabrication Shop
We love helping customers bring their ideas to life through precision manufacturing that combines advanced CNC technology with old-fashioned service values. As sibling co-founders rooted in Rhode Island’s manufacturing community, we understand the importance of quality, timeliness, and integrity in every custom metal project.
Our Competitive Manufacturing Advantages
- Quality assurance: Rigorous metal inspection processes ensure every part meets strict specifications
- Short lead times: Typically two weeks or less for custom metal parts, with rush metal forming available
- Made in USA Manufacturing: All metal fabrication work performed in our Warren, Rhode Island facility
- Customer-centered approach: Direct access to our metal fabrication team for questions and support
- Woman-owned metal fabrication business: Supporting diversity in New England manufacturing
- Green Manufacturing certified business: we help our customers meet their sustainability goals
- Design support: Engineering consultation to optimize your parts for press brake bending
Let's Talk About Your Next Project
Whether you need engineering support for new product development, design optimization for existing parts, or troubleshooting help for a manufacturing challenge, Ward’s Manufacturing combines technical expertise with practical manufacturing knowledge with the equipment needed to make your project a reality.
Ready to get started? Contact our team to discuss your product design needs. We’ll review your project requirements and provide guidance on the best approach for your application.