Product Specifications

Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engr. Dept., UC Berkeley

Product Specifications
Perform Benchmarking
Establish target specifications
Finalize specifications

Benchmarking
The continuous process of measuring products against the
competitors or those recognized as industry leaders.

Benchmarking Approach
Step 1: Make a list of design issues
example coffee mill
Identify design issues: price, grind time,
fineness of grind, noise level, size

Benchmarking
Step 2: Make a list of competitive products
example: coffee mill
Krups, Braun, Cuisinar, Bosch, .

Step 3: Conduct an information search

Gather as much information about the
product as possible (functions they
perform and targeted market)
Sources: Internet, Trade Mag.,
Consumer Reports Mag., Thomas
Register of
Comp., Moodys Industry
Review, National
Bureau of Standards, Patents.

Benchmarking
Comparison of coffee mills Consumer Report Magazine

Benchmarking
Step 4: Teardown the competitors product
select competitive products that are
leaders on some aspect, disassemble and
make a list of all components.

Benchmarking
Teardown method Subtract and Operate Procedure (SOP)
1. Disassemble (subtract) one component of the
assembly or subassembly
2. Operate the product, if possible, through its full
range.
3. Analyze and document the effect.
SOP determines the functionality and/or redundancies
in an assembly.

Benchmarking
Step 5: Compare competitive products
Summarize the comparison by
component function and /or by
customer needs importance.

Step 6: Establish best-in-class competitor

For each function, determine the
highest performance solution. Also,
determine the least expensive solution.

Benchmarking
Step 7: Manufacturing and Assembly cost Analysis.
Coffee mill example

Comments on Benchmarking
Generally speaking, benchmarking can be effective
for understanding the market.
It can identify key innovations and technologies.
It will not uncover new innovations being
developed by competition., provides lagging
information.
Do not benchmark all competitive products, stay
away from loser products.
If a company is a clear market leader,
benchmarking may not offer much insight.
Benchmarking requires wisdom and judgment.

Product Specifications
A set of engineering targets that a product has to satisfy.

Specifications are measurable criteria, goals for the

design team.
Specification consists of a metric and a value
metric : total weight, torque, speed, .
value : between 5-7 lbs., 100 in-lb minimum
Target specifications are set before conceptual design.
Specifications are refined after product concept has been
selected.
Specifications are frequently revisited and modified during the
design process.

Different Forms of Value

A particular number load capacity, 2000 lbs.
A range weight between 10-20 lbs.
An inequality speed less the 10 ft/sec. Or
speed more than 5 ft/sec.
It is desired to make the product as light as possible
is a wish requirement not an engineering specification.

Functional Requirements vs. Constraints

Engineering requirements fall into two categories:
Functional Requirements
State the specific performance of the product,
what the device should do.
transfer torque, lift weight, increase speed,...

Constraints
state the limitations on the design, not directly related to
the function (cost, size, weight, safety issues, material, )

Constraints can drive the solution of many products.

Example loudspeaker, qualitative

specifications vs., quantitative

Process of Establishing Specifications

Prepare a list of metrics

Use customer needs

Use the design team knowledge and
experience
Use specification breakdown list

Specification breakdown list

Quality Function Deployment, QFD

QFD is a methodology for defining the customers
desires in the customers own voice, prioritizing these
desires, translating them into engineering
requirements, and establishing targets for meeting the
requirements.
QFD was developed in 1972 at Mitsubishi, introduced
into US by the Xerox Corp. and has been adopted by a
number of industries, automobile, electronics,.

QFD
1. Identifying the Customer(s)
Goal: Determine who will use the product

2. Determining Customer Requirements

Goal: Develop a complete list of all requirements

3. Determining Relative Importance of the

Requirements
Goal: Evaluate importance of each
requirements

QFD
4. Competition Benchmarking
Goal: Determine how the customer perceives the
competitions ability to meet the requirements

5. Translating Customer Requirements into

Measurable Engineering Requirements
Goal: Develop set of engineering requirements (design
specifications) that are measurable

6. Setting Engineering Targets for the Design

Goal: Determine target values for each engineering
requirements

The House of Quality

A summary of the product specifications and supporting data
consisting of benchmarks, target values, and technical issues.

The
House of
Quality
automatic
ice tea
brewer

Correlation
matrix

The + sign shows a

strong positive
relationship which
indicates that as one
metric is improved, the
other improves
significantly as well
The (-) sign shows a
conflict, if one metric
improves the other one
deteriorates.

Functional
requirements

Competitor
rating

Customer
requirements

Engineering
targets

Comments on House of Quality

It provides a large quantity of information in a
very concise and well organized form.
The intent of the House of Quality is consensus
building.
The matrix should not be too large.
The matrix does not generate specification, it
documents them.