6.1 Introduction to the Problem of Reverse Engineering …
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previously absent in the international market) product (e.g., a medicine or a material)
from the idea to the mass production.
The first stage of creation of any innovative (new) product usually involves
complex and lengthy fundamental studies, during which the concept of the new
product (its foundation) is formed, various new theories are developed, new physical
principles of operation of basic elements, new materials, and brand new technologies
are researched and applied. In addition to using extremely complex and, accordingly,
expensive analytical equipment used by theorists and ordinary research engineers to
test various sophisticated solutions invented by these theorists, it is necessary to
create brand new (unique) and incredibly expensive equipment and develop equally
sophisticated technological tools to implement these solutions. This stage is of the
so-called venture (risky) character; it takes a lot of time (usually several years) and
requires fairly large financial investments. As a rule, these problems are examined
not by one or two persons, but by entire teams of highly qualified scientists and
engineers.
When these scientists and engineers finally manage to find an optimal technical
solution to the theoretical tasks, the second phase of development of any such innovation begins, which consists in pilot and applied research and development works,
which also require a lot of time and, accordingly, quite significant funding. Execution of these research and development works results in the creation of the design
and production technology of the new product, production, and study of the first test
samples, development of the so-called draft design and technological documentation,
and a number of other regulatory and technical documents.
Finally, the third stage is implemented; this stage includes research and development works (R&D), during which test batches of products with structures and
technologies modified according to the results of studies and tests of experimental
samples undergo all the necessary testing stages in the conditions that are as close to
the conditions of real serial production as possible. During R&D, design elements
and production technology are modified, and a full cycle of various sophisticated
tests, including reliability tests, are performed. For example, microcircuits designed
to be used in military and spacecraft applications are subject to a large number of
additional costly tests in order to check their resistance to effects of multiple destabilizing factors (temperatures, radiation, mechanical and electrical overloads, etc.);
it also requires financial expenses and takes a lot of time.
Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain material and financial costs to prepare and
organize serial production, optimize production costs, perform works to increase the
percentage yield in serial production to increase rentability and reduce prime costs—
after all, multiple competitors also work actively on such products, and it shall be
taken into account.
The phase of organizing serial production is not that simple either. It is necessary
to sell the product in a relatively short time for a certain amount of money in order
to compensate for (repay) the costs incurred (point of return in Fig. 6.1).
505
previously absent in the international market) product (e.g., a medicine or a material)
from the idea to the mass production.
The first stage of creation of any innovative (new) product usually involves
complex and lengthy fundamental studies, during which the concept of the new
product (its foundation) is formed, various new theories are developed, new physical
principles of operation of basic elements, new materials, and brand new technologies
are researched and applied. In addition to using extremely complex and, accordingly,
expensive analytical equipment used by theorists and ordinary research engineers to
test various sophisticated solutions invented by these theorists, it is necessary to
create brand new (unique) and incredibly expensive equipment and develop equally
sophisticated technological tools to implement these solutions. This stage is of the
so-called venture (risky) character; it takes a lot of time (usually several years) and
requires fairly large financial investments. As a rule, these problems are examined
not by one or two persons, but by entire teams of highly qualified scientists and
engineers.
When these scientists and engineers finally manage to find an optimal technical
solution to the theoretical tasks, the second phase of development of any such innovation begins, which consists in pilot and applied research and development works,
which also require a lot of time and, accordingly, quite significant funding. Execution of these research and development works results in the creation of the design
and production technology of the new product, production, and study of the first test
samples, development of the so-called draft design and technological documentation,
and a number of other regulatory and technical documents.
Finally, the third stage is implemented; this stage includes research and development works (R&D), during which test batches of products with structures and
technologies modified according to the results of studies and tests of experimental
samples undergo all the necessary testing stages in the conditions that are as close to
the conditions of real serial production as possible. During R&D, design elements
and production technology are modified, and a full cycle of various sophisticated
tests, including reliability tests, are performed. For example, microcircuits designed
to be used in military and spacecraft applications are subject to a large number of
additional costly tests in order to check their resistance to effects of multiple destabilizing factors (temperatures, radiation, mechanical and electrical overloads, etc.);
it also requires financial expenses and takes a lot of time.
Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain material and financial costs to prepare and
organize serial production, optimize production costs, perform works to increase the
percentage yield in serial production to increase rentability and reduce prime costs—
after all, multiple competitors also work actively on such products, and it shall be
taken into account.
The phase of organizing serial production is not that simple either. It is necessary
to sell the product in a relatively short time for a certain amount of money in order
to compensate for (repay) the costs incurred (point of return in Fig. 6.1).