DEVELOPING STANDARDS AND

SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRODUCTS

 Introduction
Materials standards and specification helps ensure
that appropriate materials will be used in a product
to meet the needs of the target market.

These standards and specifications define

expectations for each material type, characteristics,
quality, appearance, and performance.

Standards and specifications are developed so that

the materials in a product will not adversely affect
consumer satisfaction.
Three factors which generally influence product
performance and consumer satisfaction-
– Construction
– Fit
– Design
 Product Integrity
• Product integrity is the way the materials and
other aspects of the product work together to
affect consumer satisfaction.

• Two major components are-

– Internal integrity
– External integrity
Internal integrity- addresses the consistency among
the materials, the product’s function, and its
structure

External integrity- addresses the consistency

between a product’s performance and consumer
expectations.
 Standards & Specifications
• A standard helps a company describe a quality
level for the product it sells and ensures
consistency in quality.

• Standards which reflect the company’s

philosophy and business objectives and the
target market expectations for the product, are
often stated in general terms that describe
characteristics and performance aspects for a
product line.
Specifications include details for specific
products. Specs reflect standards, but include
more specific information describing
characteristics and performance level that must
be met and procedures that describe the
evaluation process.
Tolerances describe the acceptable range of
variation from a specification. When reviewing
specs for products, tolerances are more likely to
be listed as ranges of behavior than as
minimum, as was the situation with materials.
 Relationship to Material Standards &
Specifications
Standards and specifications for products build on
an understanding of the materials that will be used
to manufacture the product.

Often, changes in materials and products occur

during the product development process, when
team members begin to integrate material
characteristics and performance with design, target
market expectations and business objectives.
Materials evaluation ensures that they are able to
produce a product that meets these requirements,
but success also depends on the manner in the
materials interact with each other and the
contributions each materials makes to meeting the
requirements for design, production and the target
market.

Thus the company and its suppliers must use

product standards and specifications to determine
the degree to which a product meets expectations.
 Product
Significant attributes that contribute to the internal
integrity of the finished product-
– Design
– Function
– Appearance
– Size
– Fit
– Construction
– Finishing
– Zoning
– Packaging
 Design
Design is the details, features and characteristics of
the finished product. Design works with the entire
product from a holistic perspective and considers
how the various parts of the product contribute to
the aesthetic perception of the whole.

Design standards and specs focus on the aesthetics

and fashion characteristics of the product.

Design specs address such as features as collars,

pockets, and fabric motifs.
 Function
Function defines how well a product does what it is
designed to do. It can address a specific set of
performance for a specialized end use, as for many
functional clothing items, or it can address a more
generalized set of requirements for a consumer
product.

Function or functional specs and standards address the

ability of a product to perform well in its intended end
use or to meet or exceed claims made in advertising or
guarantees.
 Appearance
Appearance is how the product looks when an
individual views it from a near
perspective.Appearance addresses features that
would be noticed when an individual interacts.

Appearance standards emphasize the way the

finished product looks from outside and may
describe in which design details, plaids, stripes
or other material motifs match.
 Size
Size can be used to describe several aspects of
product. Essentially, size, refers to the important
length, width, depth, circumference and vertical
dimensions of a product.

Size specs include more detailed dimensions,

tolerances, allowed within a size range, and
descriptions of the procedures to be followed in
measuring product size.
 FIT
Fit is how the product dimensions relate to the
three dimensional form, body.

Fit for apparel refers to how the garment relates to

the individual’s shape, while allowing general or
specific range of movement.

Fit standards include such features as how much

ease or extra amount is needed for movement,
how product features relate to the body and how
the product drapes on the body.
 Construction
Construction is the way the various parts,
components, and materials of a product are
combined in a permanent fashion to create a
finished product.

Construction specs should include details related to

stitch type, seam type, thread type, seam allowance,
etc.

Specifications for construction are sometimes

referred to as engineered specs
 Finishing
When construction is completed for a product, several
additional steps may be needed to achieve the final
look.

Finishing include basic procedures related to trimming

of threads, pressing, steaming.

Finishing also refers to any product processing steps,

such as abrasive washes, product dyeing, etc.
 Zoning for Defects & Appearance
In product zoning, the company recognizes that
some parts of a product are more critical in
terms of appearance that other parts. Those
parts of zones that are most visible are of
greater importance than the parts that are
visible.
Zone 1- Areas with extremely high visibility that are
likely to viewed from a close distance at the time of
purchase. Cosmetic flaws located in this zone would
be considered major and would cause rejection of
the product.

Zone 2- Areas which are not visibly dominant, but

are visible in normal use. Cosmetic flaws in this
zone would be evaluated based upon the size of
the defect, color and intended end use of the
product to determine acceptability.
Zone 3- Areas normally hidden in everyday use,
but could be visible in occasion. Cosmetic flaws
in this zones are more acceptable that in any
other location. Flaws occurring in this zone
would be evaluated based upon the intended
use of the garment.
Examples of Product zones
 Packaging
Packaging is the manner in which a product is
prepared for transportation, shipped and
presented to the consumer.

Packaging standards often describe general

aspects of how the product is packaged ,whereas
packaging specs describe the material that
should be used and the manner in which the
product should be folded, etc.