Cosmetic requirements are real requirements
Surface finish, color match and blemish limits drive scrap and cost. Define them with samples or a written standard rather than adjectives, and agree how borderline parts are judged.
Tooling and volume economics
Decide how much tooling to commit before demand is proven. Bridge production, soft tooling or a smaller cavitation tool often costs less overall than a production tool built for a forecast that does not arrive.
Packaging and retail readiness
If the product goes to retail, bring packaging into the conversation early — pack format influences part design, assembly sequence and freight.