Product Design Specifications The product design specification PDS is a listing of the critical parameters specifications and requirements for the product you are designing It is a statement of what the product should be and should do The PDS is created during the problem definition activity very early in the design process Much of the product design specification is driven by customer needs It is intended to show what you are trying to achieve NOT what you will end up with This is a constantly evolving document It is subject to change as the project progresses and as more information is learned Detail is added as the design grows The following is a list of elements that might appear in a product design specification It is not intended to be all inclusive A Product design performance issues Expected product quality standards and requirements What are the current aspects of quality in competing products What are the highest levels of quality we may attain Are they adequate Expected product size and weight Customer requirements Constraints imposed on design Expected product aesthetics customer requirement Expected product ergonomic requirements customer requirement Which user operator features are desirable in this product Are there problem areas for users operators Can we design around them Expected product performance requirements the voice of the customer Product shelf life Product service life Product power requirements Performance requirements How fast slow How often use cycle Continuously or discontinuously Likely loadings internal external Tolerance of speed Rate of loading Expected product reliability standards and requirements What level of reliability can we expect for this product Expected product safety requirements Potential sources of product liability litigation Potential operator hazards Potential manufacturing and assembly hazards Potential for misuse abuse Expected product service environment What is the operating temperature range for this product What is the operating pressure range What is the operating humidity range for this product Will product be exposed to dirt or other contaminants corrosive fluids gases Is product subject to shock loading Will there be any anomalies in power fuel available for this product How will the product be treated in service What impact will the product have on its environment Will there exist excessive vibration or noise Expected product maintenance requirements Can product be maintenance free If not what is expected maintenance cycle Is there ease of access to components If routine maintenance is required can it be done by the owner operator Will professional maintenance be required Possible off the shelf component parts Which parts of this product be purchased instead of being made by us Is the quality and reliability of purchases parts adequate for this design Material requirements What are the strength requirements What are the rigidity compliance requirements Is product weight of importance Expected product recycling potential and expected disposal Does the disposal of this product constitute an environmental hazard Can parts of this product be effectively recycled by existing processes Manufacturing process requirements and limitations Is protection from the environment necessary Is there a customer preference for a particular finish 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 Applicable codes and standards to be checked Patents to be checked Processes to research benchmark Product part and prototype testing requirements B Market issues Potential customer base Who will buy this product Why Have you listed all potential classes of customers Can we tap into a new segment of the market How Market constraints on product Who is buying this type product customer base What is currently selling What is currently not selling Expected product competition These will be benchmarked If you were a customer which of the competing products would you buy What is the market share of each competing product What are the strengths of each competing product Can we incorporate them What are the weaknesses of each competing product Can we improve Target product price OEM and MSRP Target production volume and market share Is there a market for this product How do you know Is the potential market sufficiently large to justify investment in a new product Is the new product sufficiently better than the competition Expected product distribution environment How will the packaged product be treated in shipping storage and on the shelf Are adequate shipping facilities available Will installation require a professional C Capability issues Company constraints on product design manufacture and distribution What are our manufacturing capabilities Should we manufacture ourselves or outsource PRP schedule requirements time to market When should we have this product to market to capture maximum market share How much time should we allocate to design How much time do we need to implement a manufacturing process PDS Example source Stuart Pugh Total Design Addison Wesley 1991 Surveyor s Pole Stand A surveyor s pole is used in land surveying for level and distance measurement It is held vertically at a distance from a measuring device a theodolite which is operated by a surveyor To allow the surveyor to operate independently a self supporting surveyor s pole is necessary The Product Design Specification PDS for the self supporting pole is as follows Performance To be fixable in position within one minute Its lower end to contact the ground even when on irregular terrain For use on soft or hard ground The pole to be adjustable for angle so that it stands vertically on slopes up to 1 in 4 Size Pole to be 2 m long and showing a face of 25 mm A suitable base size could be X points on a circle not less than 600 mm in diameter To fit in the trunk of an auto 1 m x 0 5 m x 0 5 m Cost Manufacturing cost plus 20 Quantity Batches of 2000 5000 for domestic and international markets Maintenance Minimal e g oiling allowed Finish Corrosion resistant to enable continued usage in environment specified Materials Light weight transportable not easily damaged by impact Weight Five kilograms maximum Aesthetics Must present an image of robustness reliability and compactness Product life Twenty years Customer Surveyors in government