Product Development

Process – 1
(Product Specifications)

ME 5612
Computer Aided Product Development

A/P Lu Wen Feng

Office: EA-07-13
65161228
mpelwf@nus.edu.sg
Product Development Process
Product Specification Process
◼ Set Target Specifications
 Based on customer needs and benchmarks
 Develop metrics for each need
 Set ideal and acceptable values

◼ Refine Specifications
 Based on selected concept and feasibility testing
 Technical modeling
 Trade-offs are critical

◼ Reflect on the Results and the Process

 Critical for ongoing improvement
Veneer Press
◼ A press allows veneer to be held firmly in position while
the glue sets, enabling you to use a modern slow-setting
adhesive.
Veneer Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WGQT1kIkow
Customer Needs
Here is a partial list of the customer needs
# Need Importance
1 Veneer press can handle large workpieces 4
2 Veneer press can melt hide glue 5
3 Veneer press won't burn veneer 5

4 Veneer press generates sufficient pressure for good glue bonds 5

5 Veneer press creates flat veneered panels 5

6 Veneer press is easy to store 2
7 Veneer press is easy to load 3
8 Veneer press is easy to set up 3
9 Veneer press can maintain pressure until glue cures 3
10 Veneer press is inexpensive 3
11 Veneer press distributes heat evenly 4
12 Veneer press distributes pressure evenly 4
13 Veneer press is safe 5
14 Veneer press can vary caul temperature 4
15 Veneer press operates on standard household outlet 5
16 Veneer press reaches operating temperature quickly 2
17 Veneer press is reliable 4
Product Specifications
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n12PtAolLUU
Product Specifications
◼ Product specifications is to let designer know exactly
what the product is intended to do and what the design
requirements are.
◼ Its aim is to ensure that the subsequent design and
development of a product meets the needs (or
requirements) of the user.
◼ To convert customer needs to product specifications
 Dimensions
 Physical Properties
 Functions
 Cost
 Standard
 Testing
 Safety – e.g. non-toxic materials
 -------
Product Specifications
Here is the corresponding partial PD
Need #'s Metric Importance Units Marginal Value Ideal Value
1 Panel capacity: width 4 mm 300-635 150-720
1 Panel capacity: length 4 mm 900-1900 300-2000
1 Panel capacity: thickness 4 mm 12-25 6-50
5 Surface flatness 5 mm/m < 2.0 < 1.0
10 Cost 3 US $ < 800 400
15 Power source 5 VAC 120 / 240 120
15 Current draw 5 Amperes < 15 <6
2,3,14 Caul temperature 5 deg C 55-73 52-79
Temperature variation over panel
11 4 deg C <4 <2
surface
4 Laminating pressure 5 kPa 50-60 50-100
12 Pressure variation over panel surface 4 kPa < 40 < 20

9 Duration of pressure application 3 hours 0-2 0-24

16 Time to reach glue bonding temp 2 min < 10 <1

7 Loading height 3 mm 550-920 760-920
17 Cycles to failure 4 integer > 500 > 1E6
7,8 Number of operators 5 integer 2 1
8 Set-up time 2 min < 30 < 10
7 Loading time 3 minutes < 10 <1
6 Storage volume 2 m^3 <2 1
6 Storage footprint 2 m^2 < 1.5 1
13 Ground fault protection 5 Binary Yes Yes
Product Specifications Example:
Mountain Bike Suspension Fork
Mountain Bike Suspension Fork
• One application is as a brake
stopper on downhill rides. By
using the front fork to provide
more resistance to the bike's
brakes, you can slow or stop
your bike more easily than if
you were using just the rear
brake.

• Another common application

for a mountain bike front fork
is as a support for carrying
cargo. By attaching a rack or
bag to the front fork, you can
transport goods with ease.
Start with Customer Needs
Establish Metrics and Units
Link Metrics to Needs
Benchmark on Customer Needs
Benchmark on Metrics
Assign Marginal and Ideal Values
Product Specification Process
◼ Set Target Specifications
Based on customer needs and benchmarks
Develop metrics for each need
Set ideal and acceptable values
◼ Refine Specifications
Based on selected concept and feasibility testing
Technical modeling
Trade-offs are critical
◼ Reflect on the Results and the Process
Critical for ongoing improvement
Set Final Specifications
Quality Function Deployment
Product Specification Process
◼ Set Target Specifications
 Based on customer needs and benchmarks
 Develop metrics for each need
 Set ideal and acceptable values

◼ Refine Specifications
 Based on selected concept and feasibility testing
 Technical modeling
 Trade-offs are critical

◼ Reflect on the Results and the Process

 Critical for ongoing improvement