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Establish Target Specifications

Table of Contents 1 Step 1. Prepare the List of Metrics 2 Step 2. Collect Competitive Benchmarking Information 3 Step 3. Set Ideal and Marginally Acceptable Target Values 4 Step 4. Reflect on the Results and the Process

Step 1. Prepare the List of Metrics

The table below presents the metrics, or engineering specifications, that will be used by the team to design against.

This has to be updated to be consistent with list of needs

List of Metrics

Metric No.	Metric	Importance	Units
1	Rigid Under Max Load	5	lbs.
2	Minimum Vertical Deflection	5	inches
3	Minimum Horizontal Deflection	5	inches
4	Shield all moving components	5	Yes/No
5	Creates no additional obstacles	5	Yes/No
6	Shield all greasy/dirty components	5	Yes/No
7	Securely fastened in place	5	Yes/No
8	Intervals of height adjustment	5	inches
9	Parallel to Floor	5	degrees
10	Total Time to Adjust	5	seconds
11	Maximum Force Required by user	5	pounds
12	Torque Required	1	ft-lbs.
13	Spacing of bars at base	3	ft.
14	Area of Footprint	3	sq. feet
15	Range of Motion	5	inches
16	Elevation	5	inches
17	Visible Display	4	yes/no
18	Difference in bar heights	1	inches
19	Cycles to failure	4	cycles
20	No modification to existing supports	5	Yes/No
21	Distance to power source	2	feet
22	Man-hours of Naz. Maintenance	3	$
23	Building modifications for relocation	3	$
24	Material Costs for relocation	3	$
25	Maintenance personal can explain work needed	2	Yes/No
26	PT student can read and operate machine	4	Yes/No
27	NSF budget	5	$

The metrics, or engineering specifications, that you created in the preceding list should be directly related to the customer needs. In other words, if you have created an engineering specification, it should have some relationship to a need imposed by the customer or the marketplace. Use the table below to map your customer needs against the metrics (or engineering specifications). In many design and product development circles, the rows along the left is often referred to as the voice of the customer, while the columns across the top are often referred to as the voice of the engineer.

Customer Needs as Related to Engineering Metrics Matrix

QFD Diagram of Customer Requirements & Engineering Needs

Step 2. Collect Competitive Benchmarking Information

Relatively few Sr. design projects start from a clean sheet of paper. In most cases, there are some baseline solutions or products that could meet the vast majority of the customer's needs.

Write one or two paragraphs about each benchmark solution from the market place. Include a picture of the product, preferably illustrating the product in use or operation.

Benchmark 1 - Trailer Jack

Broke down a trailer jack into all components, took careful note of how it worked, and took careful measurments. In addition to sketches, pictures were also taken, as shown below.

Step 3. Set Ideal and Marginally Acceptable Target Values

Given the customer needs, awareness of the marketplace, and resource limitations of the current project, assign preliminary engineering specifications on each of the metrics. In addition to setting the nominal or target value or each specification, provide guidance to the team on the ideal value or direction that the team should strive for, once the nominal target values have been realized.

List of Metrics

Metric No.	Need Nos.	Metric	Importance	Units	Marginal value	Ideal Value
1	Need 1	Rigid Under Max Load	5	lbs.	300	400
2	Need 2, 7	Minimum Vertical Deflection	5	inches	based on current
3	Need 3, 7	Minimum Horizontal Deflection	5	inches	based on current
4	Need 4, 6	Shield all moving components	5	Yes/No	safety analysis
5	Need 5	Creates no additional obstacles	5	Yes/No	safety analysis
6	Need 8	Shield all greasy/dirty components	5	Yes/No	safety analysis
7	Need 9	Securely fastened in place	5	Yes/No	yes	yes
8	Need 10	Intervals of height adjustment	5	inches	>1	1
9	Need 11	Parallel to Floor	5	degrees	0.05	0
10	Need 12, 14	Total Time to Adjust	5	seconds	90	60
11	Need 12	Maximum Force Required by user	5	pounds	>10	8
12	Need 13	Torque Required	1	ft-lbs.	>5	4.5
13	Need 15	Spacing of bars at base	3	ft.	3	3
14	Need 15, 20	Area of Footprint	3	sq. feet	100	50
15	Need 16	Range of Motion (change in height)	5	inches	15	17
16	Need 16	Elevation (from floor)	5	inches	29-42	27-44
17	Need 17	Visible Display	3	yes/no	no	yes
18	Need 18	Difference in bar heights	1	inches	0.25	<0.125
19	Need 19, 21	Cycles to failure	4	cycles	160000	320000
20	Need 22	No modification to existing supports	5	Yes/No	yes	yes
21	Need 23	Distance to power source	2	feet	5	1
22	Need 24	Man-hours of Naz. Maintenance	3	hours	3	2
23	Need 24	Building modifications for relocation	3	$	400	200
24	Need 24	Material Costs for relocation	3	$	100	50
25	Need 25	Maintenance personal can explain work needed	2	Yes/No	yes	yes
26	Need 26	PT student can read and operate machine	4	Yes/No	yes	yes
27	Need 27	NSF budget	5	$	>1500	1500-install cost

Step 4. Reflect on the Results and the Process

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