Specification

The KEY stage of the project

Plans based on poor specifications:

Experience many technical changes

Include high commercial risk
Leads to delays and cost over spends
Lead to poor team morale

TIME SPENT ON SPECIFICATION IS TIME

SAVED!

Specification contd
Good specifications prevent:
Wrong technology selection
Misinterpretation of requirements
Customer relationship breakdown
Loss of contracts

Specification Example
An improved temperature probe design may
have the following requirements:
1. Circuit for an electronic temperature probe
2. To measure 0 -150 C in 1 steps
3. Output of the current, max and min temp on a
3 digit 7 segment display
4. Temperature logging for up to 2 Days
5. Maximum and minimum alarm points
6. Serial RS232 connection for logged data
download to a PC
7. Accuracy 1% over the full range.

Problems with the Spec?

Problems with the Spec?

What is the:
Sampling Rate
Format of the serial interface
Method of setting Alarm points
Form of the Output Alarm signal

A revised specification
1. A circuit for an electronic temperature probe to measure
0 - 150C in 1 steps.
2. Output on a 3 digit, 7 segment LED display of:
2.1 current temperature
2.2 maximum temperature
2.3 minimum temperature
3. Temperature logging for up to 2 Days
4. Sample rate adjustable from 0.1 to 1 Hz
5. Maximum and minimum alarm points
6. Serial RS232 connection for logged data download to a
PC
7. Accuracy 1% over the full range.
8. EMC directive (xxxxx/xxxxx) to which it will comply.
9. Alarm output on volt free contacts 1A, 30V DC min

Requirements Specification
2 types:
The Product Design Specification (PDS)
The Functional Specification

Different in perspective
PDS an internal document incorporating marketing
and competitive analysis for the company
Functional Specifications a document defining only
what the customer gets

Product Design Specification

Contents
Performance (detailed values fort he system)
Competitor analysis (detailed comparisons
against competitor products)
Environment (temp, pressure, etc. in use and
for transport)
Life in Service, Shelf Life
Product Cost
Target initial cost
Lifecycle cost

Product Design Specification

Contents contd
Maintenance requirements (preventative, repair,
philosophy (tooling etc)
Packaging & Transportation
Quantity total & peak production runs
Manufacturing requirements (equipment, processes
e.g. wiring etc..)
Size & Weight
Aesthetics
Materials used

Product Design Specification

Contents contd

Ergonomics
Standards & Safety
Quality & Reliability
Time Scales
Development
Launch

Testing Philosophy
Patents
Installation & Disposal
Legal Requirements

The PDS
Comprehensive definition
Enables engineers to evaluate design
solutions
Leads to a system design described by
System performance specification
The Functional Specification

Functional Specifications
At system and sub-system level, defining:
Performance..(

Processing requirements
Speed
Power consumption
Protocols
Error cases etc..)

Local constraints (
Environment,
User interactions
Technology choices etc..)

Functional Specifications
Contd defining:
Data interface requirements
Data libraries
Message flowcharts etc..

Size & Weight

Relevant standards

Conclusion
Specifications are difficult to define,
because:
Systems are complex
Understandings are based on perspective
Language is ambiguous

Perform a Formal Specification Review

Better Specification == Better Projects