{"id":8688,"date":"2024-06-18T12:58:13","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T16:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/?p=8688"},"modified":"2025-11-12T17:05:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T22:05:26","slug":"commercial-off-the-shelf-vs-custom-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/de\/commercial-off-the-shelf-vs-custom-parts\/","title":{"rendered":"Handels\u00fcbliche Teile von der Stange vs. kundenspezifische Teile"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Body” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”19px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Commercial Off the Shelf vs. Custom Parts: When to Buy or Build” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

In the fuzzy early stages of design and prototyping, we often talk about COTS\/OTS versus custom parts. Have you also ever found yourself stuck deciding between commercial off the shelf, off-the-shelf, or custom parts? Choosing the right tool for the job is critical and that applies to your project components as well.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Understanding Commercial Off the Shelf and Custom Parts” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf)<\/strong> and OTS (Off the Shelf)<\/strong> parts are essentially pre-made, ready-to-purchase components. Think of them like the building blocks you can find at a hardware store. There might be some subtle variations \u2013 a specialty industrial vendor might carry a more specific OTS part than your local Home Depot. But, generally, they’re ready-made and already validated, making them more reliable than custom parts.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a custom part<\/strong> is designed to your specifications for your project needs. Your customized part may still include OTS\/COTS parts in the assembly alongside any number of specially designed components. These could be custom circuit boards, machined metal parts, specialized plastic bits – in theory, nearly anything could be customized to your needs.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Choosing the Right Fit: Buy or Build?” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Let’s face it, if an off-the-shelf product perfectly fits your project needs, the decision is a no-brainer. But what if you can’t find anything quite right? If you need something specialized, how much customization is necessary? Do you have to start from scratch? Here’s where considering the existing product’s functionality and form factor comes into play. The answer will be different at different stages of your development cycle.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

In the early stages of development, especially when prototyping, utilizing existing solutions can be a time and cost-effective way to prove your concept. You can always refine it into a more custom system later on.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#ea7c00″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”10px|5px|10px|5px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The start of a new project can be overwhelming! There’s so many different directions to go in, and it can be hard to narrow options down. For example – are you going to outsource any of this work? Or try to handle it internally? Or a little bit of both? Hopefully our blog on Outsourcing vs. Internal Hiring can help you decide.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/outsourced-engineering-or-internal-hires-how-to-choose\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read the Full Blog Here!” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Knowing When to Buy (Even If You Can Build)” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/OTSvsCustom_Decision-Tree_LI.webp” alt=”commercial off the shelf” title_text=”OTSvsCustom_Decision Tree_LI” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”||0px|||”]<\/p>\n

There are plenty of commercial products that almost never make sense to build yourself.<\/p>\n

Think of it like making pizza. You could<\/em> grind your own flour, grow your tomatoes, and make your own mozzarella to create an incredible pizza. But, unless you already have a well-stocked kitchen (and a prep cook), your hungry coworkers will probably appreciate you just ordering a pizza for lunch instead. The same goes for standard hardware like nuts, bolts, and bearings. Unless you have a top-notch machine shop on hand, buying them will always be easier and cheaper than making them yourself.<\/p>\n

The fidelity of your prototype also comes into play \u2013 if an existing product already contains the functionality you need but the form factor is too clunky, that’s still enough to prove out your concept. In early stages of product development, it\u2019s much cheaper, easier, and faster to start with existing solutions as you build out your product and then refine it into a more custom system.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n

Remember, at this early stage it doesn’t need to look pretty – it doesn’t even have to look GOOD. It just has to work. We’ve tested concepts with foam and cardboard prototypes when validating the idea is a bigger priority then material selection. The foam and cardboard can be easily swapped out for better materials when we need to start honing in on durability and compatibility later on.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”When to Consider Custom” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

In the case where a commercial off the shelf product doesn’t satisfy the full scope of your project needs, then you\u2019ll need something custom. How much customization is required will depend on how closely any existing products meet the project requirements, and how much more specialization you need.<\/p>\n

There are a few key reasons why building custom parts might be the way to go:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n