Lecture 5
Product Design Specification
PDS in Design Process
Recognition
of Need
Becoming
Informed
 Market analysis
 Background study
Problem
Definition
Product Design
Specifications
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PDS
 Proposed by Pugh
 It is NOT the final specifications/achievements
 It is a control document of what designers try to
achieve
 It acts like a design checklist and applicable to all
design applications
 It is dynamic rather than static – can be
improved, changed to suit design requirements
 It defines the constraints/boundary of the
design.
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Elements of PDS
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PDS
 Performance – target, attainable values
 Environment – effects on product during manufacture  use, effects on
environment
 Life in service – 7 days/week, 24hrs/day, @ X years
 Maintenance – maintenance philosophy, need for special tools, ease of
maintenance
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Targeted production cost
Competition – data from benchmarking, IP, info search
Shipping – delivery method, lifting capability
Packing – cost & method of packing
Quantity – will affect other costs such as tooling, processes
Manufacturing facility – in-house or vendor, support system, machinery
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PDS (cont’d)
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Size – affects user, cost, shipping & handling
Weight - affects user, cost, shipping & handling
Aesthetics – user perception or acceptence
Materials
Product Life Span – life in production line
Standard and Regulations – government, BS/ISO/MS/DIN
Ergonomics
Customer – target customer
Quality & Reliability – subjected to standards (BS, ISO, etc)
Shelf Life – storage risks and problems
Processes – processes involved, in-house facility/vendor
Time-scales – period to complete the design
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PDS (cont’d)
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Time-scales – time needed to complete the development
Testing – methods, facility, requirements/standards
Safety – safety requirements
Company Constraints – house, facility, cost
Market Constraints – local conditions, full market knowledge
Patents, literature & Product data – clash & IP laws
Political & Social Implications – social unrest, rejection
Legal – product liability legislation (product defects, defects of
manufacture, defects of design, etc)
 Installation – assembly consideration (stand alone, subsystem)
 Documentation – manual, user instructions, etc
 Disposal – environment.
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Writing PDS Document
 It is a control document
 Should be clearly written
 Use sharp and definitive statements, NOT is
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essay form
Try to quantify parameters or estimate a figure
Vary your starting point
Date and put your issue number
Clearly document amendments
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Format of PDS
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Assignment 2
 Carry out your information analysis of the car jack
design based on your information analysis plan.
 Develop your PDS based on your information
analysis.
Due 3rd July 2003
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