Today, Design specification has gained great relevance in various areas of society, awakening the interest and attention of many people around the world. Its impact has been so significant that it has generated endless debates, research and analysis about its influence on people's daily lives. Furthermore, Design specification has been the subject of numerous studies and investigations seeking to understand its true scope and possible long-term implications. In this article, we will explore the phenomenon of Design specification in depth, analyzing its most relevant aspects and its impact on today's society.
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A design specification (or product design specification) is a document which details exactly what criteria a product or a process should comply with.[1] If the product or its design are being created on behalf of a customer, the specification should reflect the requirements of the customer or client.[2] A design specification could, for example, include required dimensions, environmental factors, ergonomic factors, aesthetic factors, maintenance requirement, etc. It may also give specific examples of how the design should be executed, helping others work properly (a guideline for what the person should do).
An example design specification, which may be a physical product, software, the construction of a building, or another type of output. Columns and information may be adjustable based on the output format.
Number | Category | Demand / want | Weighting number | Requirement | Success criteria | Method of assessment | Date modified |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aesthetics | Demand | 2 | Product must be blue | Product is blue | Visual analysis | 03-21 |
2 | Cost | Demand | 1 | Product costs less than £300 | Product is less than £300 | Component cost analysis | 03-21 |
3 | Function | Want | 3 | Product is collapsible | Product can reduce by at least 1/2 its size | Prototype testing | 05-21 |
4 | ... |
Construction design specifications are referenced in US government procurement rules, where there is a requirement that an architect-engineer should specify using "the maximum practicable amount of recovered materials consistent with the performance requirements, availability, price reasonableness, and cost-effectiveness" in a construction design specification.[3]