Same supplier. Prototype → production. Faster launch.

Single-source most valuable when: (1) Regulatory pathway expected (medical, aerospace) — supplier change requires re-qualification. (2) Production volumes will exceed 1000-5000 units. (3) Long product life (3+ years). (4) Complex parts where supplier learning matters. For simple commodity parts or short product runs, multiple suppliers may be appropriate. For complex products with long lifecycle, single-source through PifyC valuable.

Pricing scales with volume — prototype prices reflect setup overhead and small quantities. Production prices reflect amortization over volume and process efficiencies. Typical pricing: prototype $200-2000 per unit, production $20-200 per unit (10× reduction common). Customer not locked into prototype pricing — prices renegotiated for production volumes. Transparent cost structure — customer sees how pricing changes with volume.

Yes — customer always free to take design elsewhere. We do not lock customers into our supply chain. However: (1) Re-qualification at new supplier costs time and money. (2) New supplier has learning curve. (3) Tooling investments stay with original supplier. (4) DFM lessons learned with us must be transferred. Most customers find it more cost-effective to continue with original supplier through production. Decision is customer's.

Common reality — many products have lower production volumes than projected. We handle this gracefully: (1) Production volumes adjusted as actual demand develops. (2) Tooling investments recovered through volume buildup if possible. (3) Per-unit pricing adjusted as volumes settle. (4) End-of-life buys supported. We commit to long-term relationship even if volumes are smaller than expected.

Production ECNs (Engineering Change Notices) handled through standard process: (1) Customer notifies of change. (2) We assess impact (cost, schedule, validation needed). (3) Customer approves cost/schedule impact. (4) Implementation per agreed schedule. (5) Validation per customer requirement (FAI re-execution if needed). (6) Production transition managed for inventory consumption. Standard process protects both parties through change.

For products approaching end-of-life: (1) Last-time-buy quantity coordinated. (2) Specific spares production for warranty service. (3) Tool retirement or storage for future spares. (4) Documentation archive maintained per industry retention. (5) Materials sourcing for legacy production may be challenging — we work with customer through obsolescence issues. End-of-life is part of full lifecycle support.