Product Design Specification (PDS)

What are Product design specifications:

The generation of product design specifications is the first phase in the mechanical
design process. It represents the voice of the client and seeks to define all the required
functions of the design and highlight constraints within which the design must work.

Why are they important:

1. The information gathered in the development of the PDS is critical

in allowing the designer to understand the clients requirements for the design.
(Misunderstand the client and a lot of time could be wasted designing a useless product)

2. The PDS also allows for the scope size and complexity of the project
to be estimated early on in the design process
Example
Client/customer : “I need a boat”
How do I know what the client wants?

Ask questions of the client

(PDS)
Note: Product design specifications may vary during the
design process.

However, the more detailed they are to begin with the

better the project will be understood and the less likely
they are to change significantly
Manufacturing Performance
Acceptance Requirements
requirements
Standards Function (s)
Process
Inspection Appearance
Materials
Testing Reliability
Assembly
Standards Environment
Packing
Patents Ex-works cost
Quantity
Delivery rate Ergonomics
Quality
Weight
Noise

Product Design Specification

PDS

Operational
Requirements Disposal
Installation Standards
Use Legislation
Maintenance Company policy
Safety Hazards
 Performance Requirements
Function (s) What is the function of the project or design? There may be multiple
functions

Appearance What is the Aesthetics of the product? What should it look like?

Reliability What is the design life of the product? What is the amount
of time between failures

Environment What environment is the design to operate in? Does this

environment preclude the use of some materials?

Ex-works cost What should the design cost to manufacture? Total cost.

Quality How will quality be maintained consistent. Robust design,

production inspections. What will the quality of components in the
design be?

Weight Are the any weight requirements or restrictions?

Noise Are the any noise requirements or restrictions?

 Manufacturing requirements
Process What manufacturing processes will be used in manufacture of the
design? Are there any restrictions or limitations

Materials What material may be used in the design. Restrictions? Working

Environment often plays a role.

Assembly What method of assembly might be used? Who might be assembling

design – skillled /unskilled?

Packing How might the design be packaged for shipment or transporting

(foldable? Crates?)

Quantity How many of the product / design will be made? What should be
considered in production?

Delivery rate What might the production rate be? How many may be delivered at a
time?

Company capabilities What are the limitations / restrictions of current production

facilities and what might they need to be?
 Acceptance Standards
Inspection Does the product need to conform to specific standards? Are there to
be inspections

Testing Does the product need to be tested after manufacture of during

service. What would the tests be and how would they be conducted?

Standards Are there standards or codes of practice surrounding the product or its
manufacture?

Patents Does the design infringe on any existing standards? Patents can be
useful sources of information.
 Operational Requirements
Installation Is the installation of the product complex? How much time should it
take to install? What skill level will be installing the product?
Installation instruction required?

Use what would drive/ power the product? Cost of ownership – spares?

Maintenance What might the maintenance requirements be? Routine? Complete

Overhaul? What would the customer want? What is realistic?

Safety What safety requirements might there be?

 Disposal

Standards Disposal standards

Legislation Legal requirements – recycle parts / components of the design

Company policy Internal company rules

Hazards What hazards might occur in the product or design disposal