UK-based Industrial Design Consultancy "regularly [fields] calls from inventors bristling with new inventions and ideas." And no matter how diverse the inventions are, there's a commonality to getting something mass produced that requires a sort of FAQ to help would-be designers out.

IDC has put just such a guide together and made it freely available here.

The process [inventors] must go through and the challenges they have are often very similar. How do you know when the time is right to take the plunge and invest in developing a concept into a commercial product? What are the first safe steps to protecting your idea and how do you go about it? To make the product development journey smoother, our team has put together the IDC Inventors Guide. With an introduction to research and development, the patenting process, confidentiality agreements and costs, as well as advice about seeking outside investment, licensing and marketing, the Inventor's Guide will help you plan and assess how to profit from your idea.