DESIGN

SPECIFICATIONS
The Description of a Design…
USER REQUIREMENTS
▪ Machines are designed to fulfil the needs/requirements expressed by users
▪ User Requirements are defined as:
▪ Identifiable capabilities expressed as performance measurables of functions that the
system must possess to meet the mission objectives
▪ Attributes of the final design that must be a part of any acceptable solution to the
design problem
▪ An externally observable characteristic of a desired system
SPECIFICATIONS AS A DEFINITION
▪ The Machine does its work to achieve a said objective
▪ The machine’s ability to fulfil this objective is however, not unlimited
▪ The machine has limits described by its:
▪ Strength
▪ Speed
▪ Capacity to store material
▪ Capacity to withstand heat
▪ Dimensions
▪ Power
▪ Torque, etc
 QUALITATIVE ASPECTS OF DESIGN
SPECIFICATIONS
▪ There are several categories that describe the User Requirements that need to be
fulfilled by a machine or product
▪ The following list gives examples of some of the categories and how they apply
QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS OF DESIGN
SPECIFICATIONS
▪ The limitations present in a machine thus describe the boundaries of
the machine that affect how it fulfils the objective
▪ Thus specifications are a measure of the machine and as such are
described by quantities/qualities that measure an aspect of the
machine
▪ Examples include:
▪ A 2.0 litre engine
▪ A mill that has a crushing load capacity of 30 tons/hr
▪ A 4GHz Octa-core processor
▪ A 20 Hp Electric Motor
▪ A 5000 ML dam/reservoir
EXAMPLE OF APPROPRIATE USER REQUIREMENTS
▪ Specifications are technical descriptors of the machine
▪ These are obtained from the need by converting what the need entails into what
the Engineer understands to be HOW the need may be fulfilled.
▪ Specifications should be complete, unambiguous, precise, and verifiable
 CONVERTING USER REQUIREMENTS INTO
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
▪ Design/Machine Specifications are described as the detailed operation and attributes
of a system that are used as the basis of the design concept.
▪ Engineering Attributes and Specifications can be derived from User Requirements
through the use of the method: Quality Function Deployment
 QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT
THE METHOD
▪ Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a method useful in translating
user requirements into engineering attributes
▪ The method is part of a larger teaching of Quality Management courses
regarded as the House of Quality
▪ QFD is a process and set of tools used to effectively define customer
requirements and convert them into detailed engineering specifications
 QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT
THE METHOD
▪ The QFD process has a set of requirements for it to be successfully executed:
▪ Defined User Requirements as collected using appropriate tools and methods
▪ Company Audit for the designer’s company processes and an audit of their competitors
company processes and products
▪ Customer/User surveys describing how the customer rates the product’s performance
or the importance of its key features

▪ The output of a QFD method is a set of engineering attributes describing the

product and how it operates.
▪ The method also informs us of how well the product fares compared to
competitors in our eyes, as well as the designers’ and customers’ eyes
▪ Once complete, part of the QFD
solution will be as is shown in The scientific/engineering aspects
that are likely to affect the
the diagram performance of the machine in
trying to fulfil the user
requirements are shown at the top
▪ The User Requirements detail of the diagram

what the solution must fulfil

and are shown on the left side
of the diagram

▪ The roof of the QFD diagram

shows the relationship between
the scientific aspects that are
involved in the fulfilment of the
user requirements
WHAT DOES THE QFD METHOD GIVE US
▪ The output of a properly executed QFD method is a set of engineering
attributes describing the product and how it operates.
▪ The engineering attributes detail the principles, components and aspects of
the solution necessary for the fulfilment of the user requirements.
▪ Refer to the QFD example for practice and to familiarize yourself with the
method
MACHINE/SOLUTION FUNCTIONS
▪ The solution requires components in order to fulfil its objectives
▪ Each objective must be fulfilled by a function or set of functions
▪ These functions are carried out or performed by components
▪ Therefore, it is imperative that all required functions are identified and
defined
▪ The method for identifying the functions required in a solution is known as
the Functional System Analysis Technique (FAST), and this technique
produces a diagram useful in spatially describing the architecture of the
functions
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM
TECHNIQUE – THE METHOD
▪ The first step is to describe the solution in terms of all the functions it must fulfil in order to
satisfy the solution objectives
▪ Each function is presented in a Function Block Diagram
▪ A Function Block Diagram describes the decomposition of the main function of the product
and details what the main function entails as a solution
▪ The Function Block Diagram should describe the system in one picture
▪ What should it include
▪ Show All major system functions
▪ Interfaces to the outside world
▪ Interfaces between subsystems
▪ Clearly identify power, data, and structural interfaces
▪ Should answer how the mission statement is met
▪ Easy to read
DEFINING FUNCTIONS FOR A PROJECT
Functions are defined in two word phrases
1. Active Verb:
▪ Describes the specific action we plan to carry out to achieve our intended
purpose

2. Measurable Noun
▪ Defines the object onto which the action operates

Any Verb and Noun may be combined to describe the Function

Acid Test – “Does it describe what something

actually does in the system under study?”
EVERY DESIGN HAS BASIC AND SECONDARY
FUNCTIONS
Basic Function:
 These functions consist the Principal Reason for the product’s existence
 This set of functions has considerable value to the Customer
 The Loss of any Basic Function results in significant loss of market value for
the design
 These functions may be Performance and / or Esteem based

Secondary Function:
 This set of functions assists in, or is necessary for, the realization of a Basic
Function
 Secondary functions are subsets of basic functions
 The combination of a set of secondary functions working together in a
complimentary fashion consists the basic function
 A set of basic functions give us the solution overall function
CONSTRUCT FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM TECHNIQUE
DIAGRAM LEFT TO RIGHT, AND CHECK IT RIGHT TO LEFT
Ask How?
Secondary Function

Secondary Function

Basic Function Secondary Function

Secondary Function
OR logic
AND logic
Secondary Function Ask Why?

Process of Construction:
1. Identify what you feel is the Basic Function.
2. Ask the question: “How is this Function actually accomplished?”
Place Secondary Functions to the right of the Basic Function.
3. Check the FAST diagram by starting at the right and working left. Ask
the question: “Why must this Function be performed?”
BASIC TO SECONDARY FUNCTIONS
▪ Examples of basic functions include:
▪ Pump – To lift water from a reservoir to where it is needed
▪ Phone – To communicate across long distances
▪ Battery – To store electrical energy
▪ Shoes – To protect the feet
__________________________________________________________________________

▪ Examples of Secondary Functions include:

▪ Pump – To contain the fluid
– To increase the momentum and pressure of the fluid
– To minimize the pressure drop across the pump
_________________________________________________________________________
▪ Phone – To Communicate via voice, text and video over long distances
– To store communications records
– To be mobile and portable
Example: FAST Tree - Pump Ask Why ?

Secondary
To propel the fluid
Functions
To displace the fluid

To draw in the fluid

To increase the
momentum of the fluid
To generate the
power
To provide the power
for momentum
increase

To transmit the power

Ask How ?

To encase the fluid

To Lift the fluid To contain the fluid

To seal all interfaces

Basic Function
To minimise the pressure To provide a smooth
drop across the device change in direction
FUNCTIONS TO COMPONENTS
▪ The functions that describe how a design/machine is to operate must be
embodied in components
▪ A component/part serves to implement a function in a manner compliant to
the specifications of the design and derived from the design’s FAST diagram
▪ Examples of components include:
▪ Pump – Shaft
– Impeller
– Packing
– Rolling Bearings
▪ There are situations in which a standard part may be utilized (this is
recommended), and there are situations which require a novel part to be
designed.
SUMMARY OF POINTS

▪ User requirements are utilized to obtain specifications

▪ Specifications define the boundaries governing the expected performance
aspects of the design
▪ Specifications are utilized to obtain functions
▪ Functions define how an objective is to be fulfilled
▪ Functions are embodied in components
▪ Each component serves to act out a specific set of functions