Product Design Specifications

1
(Product) Design Specifications

• EENG / MENG - 4115 / 4315
• Senior Design

2
(Product) Design Specifications

• A document created during the problem definition
  activity very early in the product realization
  process.
• It lays the groundwork for all engineering design
  activities and ensures that all relevant factors
  are accounted for and all stakeholders are heard
  from.

3
Functional Requirements

• Expected performance requirements
• Expected product quality standards and
  requirements.
• What are the highest levels of quality in this
  product? What levels of quality can we attain?
• Expected product size, weight, surface finish
  ergonomic requirements
• Desirable user/operator features and why?
• What are problem areas? Can we design around
  them?
• Expected product shelf life and service life.
• Expected power requirements

4
Function

• How many functions? Why?
• Expected product reliability standards and
  requirements.
• Expected product safety requirements Potential
  sources of litigation or operator hazards.
• Potential manufacturing and assembly hazards.
• Potential for abuse and probability of abuse.
• Expected product service environment.
• Operating temperature range, humidity range,
  exposure to dirt or other contaminants?
• Anomalies in power/fuel available for this
  product?

5
Function

• How will the product be treated in service?
  Whats the probability of in service failure?
• Whats the impact of its environment?
• Expected maintenance requirements.
• Can it be maintenance-free
• If routine maintenance required, can it be done
  by the owner/operator?

6
Function

• Expected recycling potential and expected
  disposal
• Will disposal create an environmental hazard?
• Can parts of this product be effectively recycled
  by existing processes?
• How do we minimize environmental impact?
• Product packaging requirements.
• Can we use environmentally friendly packaging and
  packing materials?
• How much packaging and packing materials are
  really necessary?

7
Corporate Constraints

• Possible off-the-shelf component parts. Is the
  quality and reliability of purchased parts
  adequate for this design?
• Possible materials.
• What are the strength, rigidity/compliance,
  weight requirements?
• Are certain materials that more easily satisfy
  customer preference
• Manufacturing process requirements and
  limitations.

8
Social, Legal, Political Issues

• Applicable codes, standards or patents to be
  checked.
• Processes to benchmark.
• Product part and prototype testing requirements.
• Potential social and political ramifications.

9
(PDS) Summary

• Performance Specifications
• Measurable Parameters of Operation
• Testing Protocols
• Weight, Size, Cost, Etc.
• Manufacturing
• Business Considerations
• Ergonomics Aesthetics
• Safety, Life Cycle, Sustainability, Etc.
• Codes Standards