1. Introduction to New Product Development (Specifications)
Tech 190A Week 9 Lecture
Introduction to New Product Development
(Specifications)

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Drawings Show all views of each part Show 3D model of each part
Show assembly drawing

6. 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

7. 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

8. Environmental Factors
Effects on environment
Green factors of green audit score
Disposal method
Waste stream analysis
Effects on environment

9. Ergonomics Factors Ease of use for users Safe to users
User-friendly to users
Healthy to users
Others

10. Aesthetic Factors
Appealing
Color
Stylish
Options
Others

11. Cost Price of finished product Cost of production Cost of materials
Overhead
Others

12. Maintenance Ease of maintenance Cost of maintenance
Frequency of maintenance
Availability of maintenance personnel
Others

13. Quality of Product Performance Extra features Conformance Reliability
Durability
Availability
Aesthetics
Reputation
Others
Function

14. Safety To users To the environment To animals To equipment To society
Others

15. 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.

16. 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