Design specifications provide detailed information about a design to establish criteria for developers to meet, allowing for clear input from the customer and eliminating confusion. It includes intended use, detailed descriptions, and creates a rubric for performance evaluation. Both parties must read it carefully before authorizing the next step.
A design specification is a detailed document that provides information about the characteristics of a design to establish criteria that developers will need to meet. Design specs are used for everything from drafting plans for a new spacecraft to troubleshooting the design of a pencil holder. This document provides guidance to the development team and also allows the customer to have clear input into the design process. With expectations clearly established early on, confusion on both sides can be eliminated.
A portion of the design specification discusses the intended use and the nature of that use. Developers working on a new stretch of highway, for example, will discuss where the road will run, how many lanes it has, and how many cars it should see in a day, based on preliminary research. The design intent should be clear from this section of the design specification to eliminate design issues such as failure to prepare for intended use.
The design specs will also include a detailed specification description, including dimensions, weight, overall cost, and so on. He should discuss loaded and unladen weights, as well as any other topics that may be relevant. The more details, the easier it will be for the development team to deliver exactly what the customer wants. Details can also be important in the event of a dispute; for example, if a company orders shelves of a specific size and the finished product is incorrect, they can point out the line in the design specs and ask for the shelves to be remade.
This document creates a useful rubric for performance evaluation. Upon delivery, the customer and development team can view the document as a checklist to ensure all criteria have been met. If the team is unable to address a specific specification, they should provide insight into why and should contact the customer during development to discuss the situation and talk about various options for addressing it. For example, if it’s not possible to fit six seats in a car, moving the trunk could solve the problem.
Both parties must read the design specifications carefully before authorizing the next step in development. Customers need to read it to see if the characteristics they want are represented. If something is missing or doesn’t meet your desired criteria, you need to request revisions. Development teams read documents to plan the development process, and if they identify something they know won’t be feasible or could create a conflict, they should discuss it before agreeing to the contract.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
