Introduction to New Product Development (Specifications) Tech 190A Week 9 Lecture Introduction to New Product Development (Specifications)
Specifications A design specification is a detailed document that provides information about a new product idea to set criteria the developers will need to meet. Its use is called for where a product has to be specially made to meet a need. The product design specification (PDS) is a document created during the problem definition activity very early in the design process. It details the requirements that must be met in order for the product or process to be successful. The document lays the groundwork for all engineering design activities and ensures that all relevant factors are accounted for and all stakeholders are heard from.
Product Design Specification (PDS) The design specification must include all necessary drawings, dimensions, materials, environmental factors, ergonomic factors, aesthetic factors, costs, maintenance, quality, safety, documentation, company constraints, performance issues, market issues and descriptions that will be needed. Typical performance issues include size, power requirement, service life etc. Typical market issues include potential customer base, their demographic information and locations etc. Typical company constraints on product design, manufacture, and distribution involve strengths and weaknesses of the company in fulfilling these roles. The product design specification should be written as a list of requirements under each area of interest.
Sample Product Design Specification Areas Materials Environmental factors Ergonomic factors Recycling Aesthetic factors Cost Maintenance Quality Safety Documentation Company capability issues Government regulations International issues Ethical issues
Drawings Show all views of each part Show 3D model of each part Show assembly drawing
Dimensions Detailed part drawings showing all required dimensions Appropriate set of views with no redundancy, tolerancing with reasonable values for each dimension Title block with part name, drawing number, owner name, date, material, units, projection Meaningful and detailed product/parts analysis
Materials Types of materials Suppliers of materials Locations of materials Cost of materials Quality of materials Form of materials Delivery mode of materials Supply chain logistics of materials Others
Environmental Factors Effects on environment Green factors of green audit score Disposal method Waste stream analysis Effects on environment
Ergonomics Factors Ease of use for users Safe to users User-friendly to users Healthy to users Others
Aesthetic Factors Appealing Color Stylish Options Others
Cost Price of finished product Cost of production Cost of materials Overhead Others
Maintenance Ease of maintenance Cost of maintenance Frequency of maintenance Availability of maintenance personnel Others
Quality of Product Performance Extra features Conformance Reliability Durability Availability Aesthetics Reputation Others Function
Safety To users To the environment To animals To equipment To society Others
Writing a Product Design Specification Write in list format, not as an essay. Quantify your parameters, i.e. use target goals like exact weight or sizes instead of “like” or “about”. List as many specifications as possible in as many areas.
Chapter 5: Design Thinking to Bridge Research and Concept Design Ethnographic research Ethnography refers to the qualitative research method of describing human social phenomena, based on data obtained primarily from fieldwork. The goal is a complete, accurate description of the culture being studied, on its own terms. Imagery Pain points