EVT, DVT, and PVT: Manufacture Stages Explained
A great idea is the start of bringing a new electronic product to life, and after that, it’s more about a continuous validation process to ensure everything works well. At Seeed Studio, our ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) service will walk with you through every stage of product development, from concept evaluation to mass production. That’s where three critical phases come into play: EVT, DVT, and PVT. They are the backbone of ensuring your product is robust, reliable, and ready for the market.
What is EVT? EVT at Seeed Studio
EVT (Engineering Validation Test) is a stage where we bring your product’s core concept from the drawing board to a tangible prototype. Think of it as the “let’s see if this works” phase.
At Seeed Studio, our ODM team kicks off EVT with building key prototypes:
- PCBA Prototyping & Testing: We fabricate early-stage printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and put them through rigorous tests to check functionality.
- Software Bringup & Module Driver Debugging: Our software wizards get the code running, debug module drivers, and make sure all hardware-software interactions start clicking.
- Mechanical Structure Prototyping: We 3D print or mill early structural parts, assemble them into a rough product, and pick apart any design flaws (like fit, form, or assembly headaches).
Once these pieces come together, we conduct a comprehensive test for the entire product and a certification pre-scan to identify potential issues early on. Then, we hold an EVT review—if tweaks are needed (for hardware, software, or structure), we iterate until we’re confident enough to move to the next stage. It’s all about validating the feasibility of your product’s design in our ODM workflow.
What is DVT? DVT at Seeed Studio
DVT (Design Validation Test) is a stage where we solidify the design and squash any remaining bugs. In this stage, the product starts looking and acting like the final version.
In our ODM process at Seeed Studio, DVT steps up the game:
- Refined PCBA Prototyping & Testing: We produce more polished PCBAs and subject them to stricter electrical and functional tests.
- Mechanical Design Lock-in: We confirm the final structural design, run mold-opening reviews, and start creating production-ready molds. Then, we do a “T0-TF” (think trial runs of tooling and first articles) to ensure the mechanical bits are production-ready.
- Comprehensive System Testing & Certification Prep: Just like EVT, we run full system tests and pre-certification scans, but this time with near-final hardware and software.
After DVT review, any remaining issues get fixed, and we’re almost ready for mass production. DVT is all about verifying that the design is robust and ready for scale in our ODM services.
What is PVT? PVT at Seeed Studio
PVT (Production Validation Test) is the final checkpoint before full-scale manufacturing. This is where we make sure your product can be produced efficiently and consistently. PVT is used to optimize the assembly and delivery process
At Seeed Studio, our ODM PVT process focuses on:
- Mass Production Trial Runs: We build a small batch of products using full production processes, equipment, and supply chains. This isn’t just about if the product works, but how well we can make hundreds or thousands of them.
- Process Validation: We check every step of the manufacturing flow – from PCB assembly to mechanical assembly, testing, and packaging to ensure speed, quality, and cost-efficiency.
- Final Reliability & Compliance Tests: We run endurance tests, environmental stress tests, and final certification checks to guarantee the product meets all specs and regulations.
Elements vetted during PVT:
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- Design for Assembly (DFA)
PVT is where we confirm that the production process is solid. Once we clear PVT, your product is ready for mass manufacturing with our ODM capabilities.
Need help getting your project started?
Whether you’re a startup with a bold idea or a company scaling a product line, our ODM services help you through each stage, so your product goes from concept to market smoothly. With the advantage of Seeed‘s production capabilities, we have helped thousands of clients turn their ideas to reality from POC to mass production.
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