Look at the The Unofficial Artificer Player's Guide 3.0.
This is an extremely thorough guide to understanding and utilizing the potential power of the articifer. It discusses everything you might want to know and so much more, including a step by step and simple guide to item creation. For those wanting to optimize their artificer, it is definitely the place to go.
One example I can think of off the top of my head as to the kinds of tips it gives is that it recommends that you do not take the feat which shortens the length of time to create items. Because, the longer it takes to create the item, the more chances you have to succeed on your Use Magic Device roll to create the item. 25% less creation time means 25% fewer chances to successfully make the item.
The guide is filled with these sorts of simple but not-so-obvious optimizations. It's definitely a little long, though, so feel free to skip the parts you feel don't apply to you.
