Starting an industrial redesign project is exciting! We have fun visualizing how your product will help revolutionize and shape either new products or redesigning and optimizing a current product. But when the time comes to get into the gritty details, it feels like there’s an onslaught of questions that a features and functions document can help to focus in on and answer.
To enable your understanding of the features and functions document, we’ve taken the time to break down our features and functions document—what’s on it, what does it mean and in how much detail.
1. Objectives
What are you trying to accomplish with this product?
• Rebranding
• Ease of use
• Cost reduction
2. Technology
What will go inside your product?
How will it be used?
• Lighting
• Electronics
3. Environment of Use
Will your product be in a harsh environment or need to protect its inhabitants against weather elements? Will it need to be designed based on an NEMA or IP Rating?
4. "Look and Feel"
Do you want it to look like a preexisting family of products or enclosures?
• Branding
• Soft corners
• Industrial / Residential
5. Storage
Where will your product be stored? Does it need to be stackable?
6. Equipment of Use
What equipment, if any, will be on or in your product?
7. Shipping, Packaging and Freight
How do you want your product shipped and packaged?
• Drop ship to end users
• UPS
• Skidded
8. Configuration
To help determine the size, what features need to be on or in your product? Does it need to be configured for a family of products? Where will the equipment go?
9. Human Factors
How will the end user interact with your product?
Who is assembling it?
10. Labeling
Will there be a UL rated listing, warning label or a serial number?
11. Size/Footprint
How much floor space should it take up?
How tall?
12. Weight and Capacity
What is the anticipated weight and size of this product?
13. Graphics
• Logos
• Bin tags
• Product identification
14. Colors
• Branding
15. Assembly
Who will assemble it?
What fastener(s) will be needed?
What type of fastener material is desired?
Will it require a special tool?
16. Target Cost
Establishing a target price may help
determine other pertinent decisions.
17. Tooling
Is there a budget for tooling?
18. Quantities
What is your Estimated Annual Usage
(EAU)?
19. Prototypes
How many will you need, when will you need them and for what purposes?
• Trade shows
• Testing
20. Expected Warranty
What is the life expectancy?
Will cycle testing be required?
21. Service Parts
How many moving parts?
Will you need a service kit?
22. Competitors
Take a look at what other products are bringing to the market at present.
What do you like or dislike about these existing products?
Are they successful? Why or why not?
Kick Off Your Industrial Redesign
At HUI, we understand this is a lot to take in, but we urge your answers be as detailed as possible to ensure your needs are properly communicated. We find this document helps customers who have product issues on the table reevaluate the situation and focus on their true needs.
Contact us today with any questions regarding our Features and Functions document or comment below! Let us know what YOU are interested in learning.
HUI dedicates itself to helping our customers design the solutions they need and launching quality products on time and within budget.