Product Specifications and Target Values

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Questions and Answers

What role do product specifications play in bridging the gap between customer desires and tangible product attributes?

  • They translate customer feedback into measurable and testable statements of what the product must achieve. (correct)
  • They outline the manufacturing processes and supply chain logistics required to bring the product to market.
  • They focus on projecting future market trends and predicting consumer preferences to guide product development.
  • They serve primarily as a marketing tool to attract potential investors by showcasing product features.

How does setting clear product specifications contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of a product development team?

  • By minimizing the need for market research and customer feedback, streamlining the initial phases of product development.
  • By establishing a rigid framework that limits creative input from team members, ensuring all specifications are adhered to without deviation.
  • By encouraging a broad, open-ended approach that facilitates the exploration of unconventional design solutions, regardless of practicality.
  • By providing concrete goals that are meaningful technically and lead to customer satisfaction, helping the team stay on track and measure progress. (correct)

In the context of establishing product specifications, what distinguishes an 'ideal value' from a 'marginally acceptable value'?

  • The 'ideal value' focuses on long-term sustainability and environmental impact, while the 'marginally acceptable value' prioritizes short-term profitability.
  • The 'ideal value' is based on subjective opinions from stakeholders, while the 'marginally acceptable value' is derived from objective market data and competitor analysis.
  • The 'ideal value' reflects the initial budget allocation for product development, while the 'marginally acceptable value' indicates potential cost overruns.
  • The 'ideal value' represents the most optimistic performance target the team can aim for, while the 'marginally acceptable value' represents the minimum threshold for commercial viability. (correct)

How can a design team ensure regulatory requirements are met when establishing specifications?

<p>By proactively integrating regulatory standards (e.g., UL, FDA, FCC, EPA) into the product specifications, even if customers do not explicitly request them. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why should product specifications be 'specific' rather than 'vague'?

<p>Specific specifications force resolution of design weaknesses, whereas vague specifications can lead to overlooked problems. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important that product specifications are not written in terms of a particular design concept?

<p>To ensure the specifications focus on <em><strong>what</strong></em> requirements the design must satisfy, rather than <em><strong>how</strong></em> those requirements will be met, promoting flexibility and innovation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a well-constructed metric for a product?

<p>Battery life should be at least 8 hours at 70% maximum brightness when streaming video. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of including popular criteria for comparison in the marketplace when constructing metrics?

<p>It ensures the product is competitive by aligning with customer expectations and industry standards. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential for a product's metrics to be dependent and not independent variables?

<p>To accurately reflect how changes in one aspect of the product affect others, enabling a more holistic understanding of the design's behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario is it appropriate to repeat a need statement as a specification and note that the metric is subjective?

<p>When the need cannot easily be translated into quantifiable metrics, requiring evaluation by a panel of stakeholders. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A product development team is struggling to define measurable specifications for 'ease of use' of a new software application. What should the team do?

<p>Define the 'ease of use' by subjective reviews and stakeholder feedback. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A company aims to develop a new electric vehicle. Which specification considers the product's lifespan?

<p>Estimate a specific range for battery degradation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which consideration falls under 'political and social' aspects of product specifications?

<p>Ensuring ethical labor practices in the supply chain. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Instead of specifying a metric or value, the product specifications should be?

<p>The product must be installed by trained professionals. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of establishing product specifications during the product design process?

<p>To define the 'what' concerning the products. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Product Specification

A translation of the 'voice of the customer' into a measurable statement of what the product must do (not how).

Metric (in specification)

A component of a product specification, expressed in measurable terms (e.g., top speed).

Value (in specification)

A component of product specification which is a specific quantity or range for a metric (e.g., > 130 miles/hour).

Why set specifications?

They provide concrete goals, allow the team to 'keep score,' and force resolution of trade-offs.

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Establishing specifications

Prepare metrics, collect benchmarking, set ideal/acceptable values, and reflect.

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Ideal value

The best-case scenario for a particular metric in product specifications

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Marginally Acceptable Value

The minimum acceptable threshold for product metrics to be commercially viable

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Issues in Product Specifications

Includes performance, life in service, cost, shipping, quantity, size, aesthetics, lifespan, environment, maintenance, competition, and packing.

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Further Issues in Specifications

Include ergonomics, quality, processes, testing, constraints, patents, legal, documentation, user needs, shelf life, safety, market and political factors, installation, and disposal.

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Mandatory Specs

Applicable regulatory requirements (UL, FDA, FCC, EPA) must be added by the design team.

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Product specifications purpose

Guides the entire product development process, should be specific, and focus on 'what' not 'how'.

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Good construction of metrics

Metrics should be complete, dependent, practical, and include popular criteria for comparison.

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Study Notes

Product Specifications

  • A specification translates the "voice of the customer" into a measurable statement of what the product must do.
  • A specification includes a metric and a value, such as a top speed metric with a value of ≥ 130 miles/hour.

Why Set Specifications?

  • They provide concrete and technically meaningful goals that lead to customer satisfaction
  • They allow the team to "keep score" on progress.
  • They force resolution of trade-offs and represent the initial hard decisions for the team.

Establishing Target Specifications

  • List metrics using a needs-metrics matrix.
  • Gather competitive benchmarking information using competitive benchmarking charts.
  • Set ideal and marginally acceptable target values for each metric.
  • Reflect on the results and the process.
  • Ideal value represents the best result.
  • Marginally acceptable value is the minimum value for commercial viability

Issues Covered in Product Specifications

  • Specification considerations include performance, lifespan, target cost, shipping, quantity, size, aesthetics, product lifespan, environment, maintenance, competition, packing, manufacturing facility.
  • Specification considerations include weight, materials, standards, ergonomics, quality, reliability, processes, testing, company constraints.
  • Patents and literature should be considered
  • Consider legal and documentation requirements
  • Specification considerations include customer and user needs, shelf life, timescales, safety, market constraints, political and social factors, and installation and disposal procedures

Notes on Product Specifications

  • Design teams must incorporate "must" requirements not explicitly stated by customers, such as regulatory standards (UL, FDA, FCC, EPA).
  • Product specifications address customer needs and market demands.
  • Specifications need to be used throughout product development.
  • Specifications have to be specific to address design weaknesses.
  • Specifications define what needs to be satisfied, without dictating how those needs will be met by a particular design

Guidelines for Metrics

  • Metrics should be complete, dependent (not independent) variables, and practical.
  • When needs can't be translated into quantifiable metrics the need statement must be repeated
  • Subjective metrics should be evaluated by a panel of stakeholders.
  • Metrics have to include popular comparison criteria for the market.

Metrics Example

  • For "The pen writes smoothly," possible metrics include variation in line thickness (mm) and ink coverage (cc/mm2).
  • Additional metrics could include functional range of writing force (N), velocity (mm/sec), pen angle (deg), and resistance to translational motion (N).
  • "The pen feels comfortable" is subjective.

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