Why Hardware Projects Stall: Avoiding 'Failure to Launch'

In episode 236, we explore why so many hardware products never make it to market, even when the idea is strong, the team is ready, and the budget is there. In this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, your host Adrian is joined by Paul Adams from Agilian, part of the Sofeast Group, to break down the real reasons hardware projects stall before they even start, and what you can do to avoid it. They go beyond theory and share practical lessons from real projects, including costly mistakes around missing specifications, bad assumptions, and external pressure to move too fast. You’ll learn: Why missing product requirements quietly kill projects The difference between having an idea and being ready to start How assumptions compound into expensive errors The hidden risks in BOMs, components, and compliance Real-world case studies where projects stalled, and why A practical 10-point checklist to validate your readiness before development The goal of this episode is to help you avoid delays, wasted budget, and failed launches when you're launching your product. 🎧 Listen now and make sure your next product is built on solid ground. TIMESTAMPS 00:03 — Intro & episode overview 01:01 — The “failure to launch” problem in hardware 02:01 — It’s not the team: real root causes 03:02 — Assumptions & missing information (core issue) 07:00 — Red flags: missing requirements & BOM 11:57 — What “ready to start” actually means 12:45 — NPI process & phase gates explained 14:22 — Specs as a living document (market changes 15:05 — Mechanical, electronics & feature requirements 17:34 — Volume assumptions & pricing impact 19:08 — The danger of rushing decisions 20:44 — Case study: prototyping failure under pressure 24:25 — Case study: component & supply chain risks 26:33 — Case study: regulatory & certification surprises 29:45 — The 10-point pre-start checklist 32:53 — Most common mistake 33:47 — Final takeaway Related content Transitioning to Manufacturing from Product Development | 2 Options IP Protection in China when Developing Your New Product [Importer’s Guide] Bill of Materials (BoM) Explained Design to Cost (DTC) Explained Getting To Grips With Non-Recurring Engineering Costs (NRE) [Podcast] 11 Common Electronic Product Certification And Compliance Requirements Crowdfunding Failures: 4 Great Prototypes That Failed To Launch Learn more about how we handle DFM & Industrialization (NPI) for our manufacturing customers Get in touch with Sofeast Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB