Consultancy Services

Early Stage R&D and Test Strategy

Engineering‑led consultancy for product concepts, prototypes, and early‑stage development programmes.

We support decision‑making before hardware is released for manufacture, ensuring that test strategies, evidence plans, and acceptance criteria are defined, justified, and aligned with project, customer, and regulatory requirements. Resonate Testing’s engineering team provides guidance on cascades, mechanical and environmental test strategies, and the development of bespoke test solutions.

The objectives are to reduce technical risk, demonstrate performance, and enable release of equipment with a high level of confidence in fitness for purpose.

Scope of services

Test cascades and strategy

We translate product requirements, specifications, and contractual obligations into a structured test cascade. This includes:

Definition of staged test sequences covering vibration, shock, environmental, fire and IP tests where applicable.
Rationalisation of test scope to minimise redundant or overlapping activities.
Balancing of over‑test and under‑test risk, with explicit rationale for sequences, severities, and sample allocation.

The outcome is a coherent, defensible test programme that aligns with project milestones and budget constraints.

Mechanical and environmental planning

We identify relevant in‑service stressors and operating scenarios and convert them into representative laboratory conditions, including:

Vibration and shock profiles based on expected environments (e.g. transport, launch, in‑service).
Temperature, humidity, pressure, and other environmental conditions reflecting realistic use cases.
Combined environmental test concepts where interactions between stressors may influence failure modes.

This ensures that testing is representative, rather than purely standards‑driven.

Bespoke test development

Where existing standards do not adequately address the product or use case, we:

Define tailored test methods and test rigs, including load paths, boundary conditions, and measurement points.
Justify the relevance of tailored methods to the intended application and risk profile.
Specify acceptance criteria and document procedures to ensure repeatability and traceability.

Non‑standard tests are documented such that they can be reviewed, repeated, and audited.

Data, instrumentation, and acceptance

We design the data acquisition and acceptance approach to ensure that the resulting evidence is robust and defensible:

Selection and placement of sensors (e.g. accelerometers, thermocouples, strain gauges, electrical continuity/insulation monitoring).
Determination of sample size and test repeats in line with risk, criticality, and statistical considerations.
Definition of pass/fail criteria and evaluation methods, including handling of deviations and anomalies.

This supports clear technical conclusions at design reviews and external audits.

Compliance alignment

We advise on alignment with relevant standards, including but not limited to IEC 60601, ISO 13485, and sector‑specific requirements. Activities include:

Mapping of requirements to planned tests and evidence.
Identification of gaps and recommendations to close them.
Preparation of documentation and data packages compatible with submissions under an ISO/IEC 17025 quality framework.

Rationale for early engagement

Risk reduction and protection of programme and reputation

Early involvement allows test strategy and evidence requirements to be defined when design changes are still practical. This reduces:

The probability of late‑stage technical findings.
Rework of hardware and associated cost/schedule impact.
Risk of in‑service failure with associated warranty and reputational consequences.

Evidence based design decisions

Screening tests and targeted development trials are used to validate key assumptions and identify sensitivities. This enables:

Design trade‑offs supported by empirical data rather than solely by analytical prediction.
Early detection of design weaknesses or margin shortfalls.
Prioritisation of design improvements where they deliver maximum risk reduction.

Improved route to approval and acceptance

A well‑structured cascade and correctly scoped evidence set reduce the need for re‑testing and additional clarifications later. This supports:

More predictable qualification and certification activities.
Increased confidence for procurement teams, primes, and regulators.
Shorter path from prototype to production release.

Combined environments and progressive test sophistication

In service, products are typically exposed to multiple simultaneous stressors. We therefore plan and justify combined environment tests where interaction effects are significant, for example:

Vibration with temperature and humidity to assess thermo‑mechanical interactions.
Transport shock with packaging performance to verify integrity of logistics solutions.
Vibration under electrical load with continuity and insulation monitoring to detect intermittent or latent defects.

Test sophistication is increased progressively as the product matures:

Initial screening – Simple, conservative tests to reveal gross weaknesses and validate core design concepts.
Development testing – Targeted tests to refine design features, interfaces, and materials selections.
Qualification and certification – Fully representative, formally documented test campaigns aligned with applicable standards and customer requirements.

Engagement model

1. Listen

We begin with a structured requirements capture, covering objectives, constraints, risk appetite, regulatory context, and key stakeholders.

2. Define

We then develop and agree the test cascade, applicable standards, profiles, acceptance criteria, and evidence plan, ensuring alignment with programme phases and gate reviews.

3. Model and prototype

Where appropriate, we propose and execute early screening or bench‑level trials. These are used to validate assumptions, refine boundary conditions, and de‑risk subsequent formal testing.

4. Engineer

We design fixtures, interfaces, instrumentation strategies, and bespoke rigs where needed. This includes consideration of load paths, stiffness, mounting fidelity, safety, and test efficiency.

5. Execute

Testing is scheduled and conducted under controlled conditions, including combined environments where required. Deviations from plan are documented with clear technical rationale, and impact on validity of results is assessed.

6. Report

We provide structured reports with traceable data, plots, and conclusions. These are written to support internal design reviews, customer presentations, and regulatory or certification submissions.

Typical consultancy outputs

Typical deliverables from an engagement include:

Documented test cascade with technical rationale for each stage.
Compliance mapping to relevant international and sector standards.
Detailed test plans and acceptance criteria suitable for execution in accredited test facilities.
Concepts or drawings for fixtures, interfaces, and instrumentation layouts.
Results from screening or development tests, with engineering interpretation and recommendations.
Final technical report aligned to the needs of design reviews, tenders, and audits.

All documentation and data are generated under our ISO/IEC 17025 quality system, supporting traceability and auditability.

Application areas

This consultancy service is particularly suited to:

Early‑stage R&D – Concepts and prototypes where requirements and architecture are still evolving.
New product introduction (NPI) – Pre‑qualification and pre‑compliance strategies to minimise late‑stage failure.
Bespoke or non‑standard equipment – Products for which no single standard is an exact fit and a tailored test approach is required.
Highly regulated sectors – Medical, aerospace, energy, transport and other domains where safety, reliability, and compliance are critical.

Frequently asked questions

Can you design and build bespoke test rigs?

Yes. We design and manufacture fixtures and test rigs in‑house or work from your engineering drawings. Designs are produced to provide representative boundary conditions and to integrate efficiently with our test facilities.

Can you work to our client’s cascade?

Yes. We can work to an existing client‑defined cascade. We review the cascade, associated drawings, and constraints to assess feasibility, identify gaps, and suggest optimisations, while maintaining compliance with the client’s obligations.

Will the consultancy output stand up at audit?

Yes. Rationale, methods, and data are documented under ISO/IEC 17025. Outputs are structured to support review by notified bodies, regulatory agencies, and prime contractors, with clear traceability from requirements to evidence.