Later this month, I’ll be attending the 40th Annual Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, where thousands of people will gather around a common challenge: how to turn ambitious space technology into reliable, buildable hardware.
I’ll be representing Out of the Box Manufacturing at Booth T4 from August 23–26.
While the event is focused on the small-satellite community, the conversations will be relevant well beyond aerospace: design readiness, component availability, prototype speed, quality expectations, and the transition from an early build to repeatable production.
That mix of technical detail and business reality is where I spend a lot of my time.
“A great design is only the beginning. The real test is whether it can be built reliably, on schedule, and in a way that supports the next phase of the program.”
At OBMFG, I work with teams that need practical answers around PCB assembly, manufacturability, prototype builds, and production planning. Some conversations begin with a nearly finished layout. Others start much earlier, when a customer is still determining whether a concept can move from an engineering effort into something their organization can source, test, and build consistently.
The details vary, but the questions are often familiar:
- Will this board be practical to manufacture?
- Are there components that could put the schedule at risk?
- What should be addressed before a design is released?
- How do we avoid creating a prototype that cannot be repeated in production?
- Who can help connect engineering goals with manufacturing realities?
Those questions are not limited to satellite programs. They come up in industrial equipment, communications systems, medical devices, instrumentation, defense, and emerging technology products. The application may change, but the need for clear communication between design, supply chain, quality, and production remains constant.
Practical experience matters
My approach is straightforward: start by understanding what the customer is trying to accomplish, then help identify the manufacturing path that best supports it.
That may mean recommending a design-for-manufacturing discussion before a board is released. It may mean helping a team think through prototype requirements, inspection expectations, component constraints, or how a low-volume build could eventually become a repeat production program.
“The best manufacturing conversations happen before a problem becomes urgent. A short review early in the process can save a surprising amount of time later.”
One reason I enjoy this work is that no two customer situations are exactly alike. A startup preparing its first functional prototype has different pressures than an established company managing a legacy redesign. A technical lead may focus on performance and reliability, while an operations leader may focus on delivery, documentation, supplier communication, and cost. Both perspectives matter.
My role is often to help connect those perspectives.
Why SmallSat is relevant
SmallSat brings together organizations working across space systems, communications, Earth observation, defense, components, manufacturing, and related technologies. It is a concentrated example of an industry where technical innovation must work alongside demanding production requirements.
For me, it is an opportunity to listen as much as it is to talk.
I’m interested in hearing what teams are building, what constraints they are navigating, and where manufacturing support can make the path from concept to completed hardware more predictable. I’m also looking forward to the broader conversations around supply-chain resilience, production scalability, and the realities of supporting increasingly sophisticated electronics programs.
“I learn something valuable whenever I talk with people who are building difficult things. Every project has constraints, and understanding those constraints is how better solutions begin.”
Let’s stay connected
Even if you are not attending SmallSat, I would be glad to connect and learn more about what your team is working on. Whether you have an active PCB assembly need, an upcoming prototype, a production challenge, or simply want a manufacturing perspective on an idea, I’m always open to a practical conversation.
You do not need to be building a satellite to benefit from early manufacturability thinking.
Brian Trumbull
Business Development Manager | Out of the Box Manufacturing
253-214-7448 ext. 113 | 425-503-4889
btrumbull@obmfg.com
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