Supply chain design maps the flow from raw materials to delivered product. For hardware startups, this includes: component sourcing, contract manufacturing, assembly, quality testing, packaging, warehousing, and distribution. Each link is a potential bottleneck and risk.
Key Takeaways
- Map every link from components to customer.
- Identify single-source dependencies — they're your biggest risk.
- Maintain buffer stock for long-lead-time components.
- Total lead time drives your production planning.