The specifications is a document describing the function of a technical object, as well as all the requirements and constraints that must be respected during its design.
As a technical object will have to meet a specific need, it is necessary to first precisely determine the purpose of the object to build. We call this the overall function.
However, the object’s function is not the only thing to consider when designing it. The designer must also meet other requirements called constraints. These take into account the physical, technical, industrial, economic, human, and environmental contexts.
| Environment | Description |
|---|---|
|
Physical
|
Constraints linked to natural elements (water, air, sun, etc.) that may have an impact on the technical object (rust, deterioration by UV radiation, etc.) |
|
Technical
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Constraints related to other technical objects that will come into contact with the object to manufacture during its use, operation or maintenance |
|
Industrial
|
Constraints linked to the mass production of the object (manufacturing time, tools and materials to be used, labour required, etc.) |
|
Economic
|
Constraints related to the financial aspect of the object (costs related to the production and maintenance of the object, lifespan of the object, cost of accessories, sale price, etc.) |
|
Human
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Constraints related to the use and to the users of the object (aesthetics, safety, ease of use and repair, etc.) |
|
Environmental
|
Constraints linked to the object's potential effects on the environment (use of recycled materials, possibility of recovery or recycling, use of ecological or biodegradable materials, etc.) |
The overall function of the object and the constraints to consider during its design are presented in a document called specifications. The finalized object must comply with the information in it.
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Overall function: Allow writing on paper
| Environment | Description |
|---|---|
|
Physical
|
The object must be made of shock resistant materials. |
|
Technical
|
The object must be transparent to allow the monitoring of the ink level. |
|
Industrial
|
The item must be made and shipped within one week of ordering. |
|
Economic
|
The cost of making the item must be less than $0.30. |
|
Human
|
Several ink colours must be available. The object must be light and easy to handle. |
|
Environmental
|
The object must be made from recycled plastics and be filled with an environmentally-friendly ink. |
