Introduction
A Product Design Specification lays down explicit information about a particular product that is to be designed and the specifications that it is going to follow. It usually represents a particular way of thinking of its builders, architects of engineers, if any. A PDS encompasses various things such as the requisite drawings, environmental factors, ergonomics, aesthetic factors, cost, maintenance, quality, documentation and safety of the product. This document usually sets out in full the details, and all that will be required of a product to be designed (Cross, 2006). This is critical as the product designed is targeted at the consumer in the market who usually have their judgments about particular products. As such, it, therefore, follows that the consumer cannot be overlooked in this whole process of design specification because they may criticize a product that they find that it is not appealing or good for them. To this extent, it may well be stated that a PDS is an analysis of the demands of the market. In our particular case, we take the case of a bag that we wish to launch in the market in the year 2016. This will be an improved version of the bags currently in the market that will cater well for the GCSE students, large enough to carry books, equipment and folders, as opposed to the subsisting ones. In the final part of this paper, we give an analysis of the findings of our product (Blake & Bly, 1993).
Performance
Performance seeks to answer a number of salient questions such as the purposes of the product that is being designed, its capacity to handle the task it is meant to do. For our purposes, the bag is meant to help school going GCSE students in carrying their luggage to school as opposed to the subsisting kinds of bags that are unable to cater for their increased luggage while being portable at the same time. The essence of this bag that we are set to launch is that it unlike the bags that are currently in the market, it allows for the carrying of larger books, equipment and other technological folders that are expected to be needed by a GCSE student. Further, the bag will have various compartments top enable the students hold and organize all their equipment in a nice way (Geoffrey, 1999).
Life in Service
This refers to the duration that the product is expected to serve its owner in executing the functions it is meant to do. In our case, it is critical to recognize that the bag is made of natural fibre and can be sued not only by GCSE students but also the IB students. Given the nature of its make and the ability of the bag as a product to transcend its prime user, it then follows that its service life is quite long. We estimate that the bag should have a life in service of between 1-2 years for the owner if kept in good condition (University (UK), 2001).
Maintenance
The bag to be made should not only be easy to clean but also easy to maintain. Maintenance of the bag is closely related to being clean and well kept. The fact that the bag will be made of natural fibre and will use basic fastenings such as zips and clasps makes it even the more easy to clean. Further, the bags will be made of primary colors that are easily maintained and come across easy to clean for the owner.
Target Product Cost
The target product costs is the estimate of the amount that the product n question is likely to cost and should take into account the prices of competing products. In our instant case, we estimate that the cost of production of the bag in the factory shall be no more than $6. Such a price will enable us to sell the bag at a price of $15.
Competition
Just like in virtually all businesses, it is the case that the industry of making school bags has intense competition. At the moment, various other manufacturers make bags of various sizes, types and designs. However, the design bag in our instant case is one which has taken a keen look at the market and seen the need to have a bag that accommodates the increased belongings of the GCSE students yet being portable. Therefore, we have confident that the unique design of the bag is going to give it a competitive edge in the market ahead off its rivals.
Shipping
Given the case that most of the market of our product namely the bag will be within the jurisdiction, it then follows that there will be no need for shipping costs and arrangements.
Packing
N/A
Quantity
The bag shall be made of heavy natural woven fabric but light enough so that it may be carried around. In particular, the bag will have a strap that can be adjusted to enable the carrier of the bag to change the way it may he hold. Similarly, the bag shall be large enough to hold a book or a folder measuring 300mm by 420mm.
Manufacturing Quality
The fabric of the bag will be woven so as to increase its strength and also to minimize the stretch that the bag would otherwise incur. Further, the bag will have different length handles that will make it possible for the bag to be held near the shoulders or even at the lower end at the waist.
Size
As already highlighted, the bag will be of a normal size to enable it be carried by students while being held by the hand or suspended from the shoulder, yet large enough to hold the various belongings of students.
Weight
The bag when empty is expected to weigh around 800 grams owing to its manufacturing material of the heavy natural fabric. Nonetheless, this is a light weight considering it is a bag. The weight is bound to increase with the inclusion of the materials of belongings of the students such as books and equipment.
Aesthetic Appearance and Finish
The bag will be of a primary color as it has been evidenced to be a popular choice in the market. More so, the bag will have an identity tag that will be attached and will be clearly seen by the owner of the bag as well as others. These features increase the aesthetic appeal of the bag and are likely to boost the sales of the product once it lands in the market.
Materials
The bag shall be made of natural fabric and dyes.
Product Life Span
The bag is expected to be durable for at least two years owing to the mate3rials that it i8s made up of.
Standards and Specifications
The bag will be one that is easily identifiable and shall be embroidered with the initials or name of the owner of such bag. The bag must also have a thick fabric to enable it maintain its outlook an appearance (ASP, 1996).
Ergonomics
This refers to the interface that a product has with people. It encompasses the issue whether the product is easy to work with. It is the case that products need to be used, examined, adjusted and maintained. It is here that the height; posture and strength of users of products is put into consideration. In our case of the bag that is set to be designed, it will have a strap that will be adjustable so as to give room to the carrier of the bag to change the manner in which the bag is held.
Customer
It is clear that the user of the bag who is the customer in this case is a GCSE student. In particular, this class of students is mostly aged between 14 and 15 years old who are reading for their GCSEs. However, as mentioned, those students taking their IB could also be customers of the product as they can also make use of the bag.
Quality and Reliability
As cited above, the bag will be made of heavy natural fabric and is durable for up to two years. Such duration of time is a testament to the reliability of the bag. This reliability is further anchored by the fact that the bag has two compartments inside the main body so as to enable a student organize their various books and yet have space to arrange their other items such as equipment.
Shelf-Life (Storage)
Since this is a fabric, as opposed to perishable or edible goods, it is likely that the product has a very long shelf life that runs into several years.
Processes
The manufacturing processes of the product (bag) includes the acquisition of raw materials namely the fabric with which to start work. The next process includes weaving the fabric in a factory by use of machines so as to come up with the desired design of the bag.
Time Scale
N/A
Testing
Following the design of the product, it will be necessary that a factory test is done to verify that it complies with the Product Design Specifications. There is a need for formulating the testing specification questions such as identifying the test rig that will be used and its cost as well as the collation of the testing data.
Safety
Being the case that the product in question is neither a toxic substance nor does it make use of toxic raw materials, we submit that the product is safe. However, safety measures need be taken in the factory or a manufacturing plant to ensure that the workers are safe.
Company Constraints
The company may suffer from a shortfall of raw materials (fabric) especially in the event that the demand for the product exceeds our projections.
Market Constraints
At the moment, the market is well occupied by various other players like evident in the section on competition. As such, there are constraints in the market with respect to penetration in the already saturated market, which requires a differentiation of our products so as to create value and gain a competitive edge over the competitors.
Patents, Literature and Promotional data
N/A
Political and Social Factors
N/A
Legal
The legal regime does not proscribe against the procuring of the raw materials or the dealing with clothing merchandise. Owing to the fact that there are minimal legal restrictions, it is likely the case that the designed product will match its objectives.
Installation
N/A
Documentation
The preparation of documents and the filing of the required materials are necessary for so far as the business of manufacturing the bags in the new design is concerned.
Disposal
It refers to an event occurring upon the end of the usefulness of the product in question. A bag may be disposed of by being recycled into another product that may be used since its material may still be strong.
References
ASP. (1996). Specifications for the Chemical And Process Industries". ASQ Quality Press , 12-17.
Blake, G., & Bly, R. W. (1993). The Elements of Technical Writing,. New York: MacMillan Publishers.
Cross, N. (2006). T211 Design and Designing: Block 2. Milton Keynes: The Open University.
Geoffrey, A. (1999). Juran's Quality Handbook". New York: McGraw Hill.
