Lesson video

Hello, and welcome to what is our fifth lesson in the design and technology 3D computer aided design unit of work.

My name is Mr. Wicken is great to see you here again today.

In today's lesson, we're going to learn all about what a specification is and why it's so important, that we write one for the design process.

You're also going to have at go writing the specification for your project that we are in the process of creating, the shelter.

So let's have a look at today's learning objectives.

Now, before we go into the learning objectives for today's lesson, make sure that you've completed the intro quiz.

If you haven't pause the video, go and get that finished and then come back to this point so that we can go through what we're going to learn in today's lesson.

It's really important so that you're successful to understand where we're going in the lesson.

Great.

Now you've got that done, let's move on to the objectives.

The first one is what a design specification is and why it's so important to the design process.

We're going to look into how we write it, and why it's so important that when we're writing it, it's actually very detailed and tells us exactly what we need to know.

Then, we're going to move on to what a manufacturing specification is and how it differs from a design specification, but at the same time it's just as important.

Then we're going to look at you writing your specifications both design and manufacturing for the shelter that you're in the process of designing yourself.

And lastly, you're going to finish off with the exit quiz as always to conclude all the learning you've done in today's lesson.

Now, to be successful we need to make sure we've got the right equipment.

So if you could make sure that you've got an exercise book or some pieces of paper, doesn't matter which one, so that you can write down all the learning that we're going to do in today's lesson.

Plus, you'll need pen, again, doesn't matter what the colour of the pen is but make sure it's working and it's comfortable to use.

Now, if you haven't got those bits of equipment, pause the video here, go and get them now and then we'll carry on.

Great.

Let's look at the key word for today's lesson.

Now we've said it already, but actually we might not be aware of what it really means.

And the word is specification.

Now let's say that word together.

Specification.

Specification.

Specification.

Excellent.

Really well done.

Now specification is just a detailed description of actually what you were planning on designing and making.

We've done lots of other documents already, but this document is key to be able to mark and actually tell us if we are successful in what we have designed and manufactured.

It is crucial to the design process and like we have a design brief and the research, whenever somebody is designing or manufacturing a product, it will always have a specification written, so that the manufacturers, the designers and the client, know exactly what they are going to be getting.

Now let's move on to the first area of today's learning.

So the first area of learning in today's lesson is what is a design specification.

Now, a design specification is in essence, a list of key points that you, as a designer, must meet.

The document can be very detailed, so that it helps you consider a real broad range of different areas when you are designing and manufacturing a product.

The specification itself, usually is written in a bullet pointed format.

That way it's just a nice, simple list, that people can go down, clearly read and understand what you are expecting to achieve from this project.

Furthermore, actually, by having that tick list there, when it comes to evaluating the project at the end you can go down there and see whether you have met that original specification or not.

And if you haven't, you can identify areas that you can go into improving for future designs.

Now, when we're writing a specification, it's really important that we understand that there's a good structure that we need to follow for design specification, and that is ACCESS FM.

Now, each one of those letters means a different area that we write in our specification.

So let's go through them now.

The first one is aesthetics.

Now I'd like you to say that word 'cause it's a weird word and it's new probably to most of you.

So aesthetics.

Great.

Aesthetics means what shape and form actually you want the product to be.

So what it's going to look like.

And that is the first area within ACCESS FM.

The second is a C, so the first C is cost.

So I'd like you to say, cost.

Thank you.

And actually all we need to really list here is what do we think the product is going to cost when it goes to market? The second C is customer.

Say, customer.

Thank you.

Excellent.

So who is our target market? Actually, that target market is really important and something that we've spoken about in previous lessons.

And that's why it's really important that we list it in our specification as well.

Next is E, and that is environment.

So environment.

Well done.

How will this product actually be environmentally friendly? We must be aware of the environment.

And it's really important that when we're designing a product today, that we are keeping it as environmentally friendly as we possibly can.

Next is the first of the two Ss, the first S is safety.

So safety.

Thank you.

So what actual safety risk must we consider when we are designing this product? We mustn't` allow the product to hurt the end user, otherwise we're not going to sell it, and people are going to give us bad reps and that's not good at all, we want good reputations.

The second S is size, so size.

Thank you.

What size and weight will the product actually be? We must consider this because if it's too heavy or too light for the intended user, it might not function well.

And that leads me onto the next word for F, function.

So function.

Well done.

What will the product actually be used for? Again, we've spoken about this in the design brief, but here in the specification we're going to list it really clearly so that we know exactly what the function of our product is going to be used for.

And the last letter is M, and in this case, M stands for materials.

So materials.

Great.

Thank you.

So what materials are actually going to be used when manufacturing this product? So those are what the different letters mean.

Aesthetics, cost, customer, environment, safety, size, function, materials.

It's really important that you remember those because we're going to come back to them later in the lesson.

Now I'm going to give you an example of the specifications so that you've got a clear understanding as to how we use this.

So I've got a water bottle just here, and if I think about the aesthetics, the look of it, if I'm writing the specification for it, I would say a shape that can be easily held.

That way that when I'm holding that water bottle, it's not going to fall out of my hand or be uncomfortable.

Next, I've got to think about the cost.

So if I was writing the specification for this water bottle, I would say that it shouldn't cost more than 15 pounds, so that it is easily purchased by everybody.

Next, the customer.

So I would say that in this situation, that water bottle is perfect for children at school, small enough to fit into a bag, but also holds enough fluid to keep them hydrated during the day.

Next is the environment.

So I'm going to say that the materials for this water bottle are all recyclable, and I think that's again really important to make sure that if we finish using that product, that we know those materials can be reused into a different product itself.

Next is safety.

So actually I've said that the safety features of this water bottle is it is dishwasher safe, so it can be cleaned easily and hygienically.

We don't want to be getting ill from using a water bottle, and that's why I think that's a really important specification point.

Next is size.

So I've said that this bottle actually it needs to hold about 500 millilitres of fluid.

So I've not spoken about the size in respect of height or width, I've actually spoken about how much fluid needs to be inside the bottle.

That way then, as I go through the design process, I'm not restricting myself to the size or the width, what I'm doing, is making sure that I'm going to get at least 500 millilitres of fluid into that bottle.

Next, we're going to talk about function.

So if I was writing the specification for this bottle, the function to me would be that it holds a fluid without leaking.

We don't want to leaky bottle, do we? Because those fluids would just go everywhere and they make a huge mess.

So the function is really important that it can hold the fluids correctly, but at the same time not leak.

And lastly, we need to think about the materials.

Now this links back to actually the environment.

So I've said that it's going to be made from aluminium, and that's a type of metal because it's really lightweight, but also aluminium is recyclable, and that way I can meet that earlier specification point.

So here is an example of a specification for a product, in this case, the water bottle.

Now, here's what I want you to do.

I want you to pause the video here and I want you to choose a product at home that you use daily.

It doesn't matter what it is, it could be a toothbrush, it could be a bowl, it could be a kettle, up to you.

And I want you in your exercise book or on your piece of paper.

I want you to write a design specification, for that product using ACCESS FM.

Explain your reasons when you are writing each point, when you're talking about the aesthetics, when you're talking about the environment, safety, function, make sure you're explaining it as you saw in my example.

So pause the video here, find a product at home that you use on a daily basis, and I'd like you to write a design specification for that specific product.

Good luck.

Welcome back, and I hope you had lots of fun writing the design specification for your chosen product.

Now let's move on to the next area of learning for today's lesson.

That is the manufacturing specification.

Now a manufacturing specification is different to the design specification that we've just spoken about and you've had a go at.

The reason why is because a manufacturing specification actually contains the information required to ensure that the product is manufactured as you have set out.

Now with the manufacturing specification another reason why we have this, as opposed to just having the design specification, is that very often, the designer and the manufacturer are two different people.

The designer will come up with the design specification, and the manufacturer will have the manufacturing specification.

That way, when it comes to the product being manufactured, there is no misunderstanding of the information that is going through from one point to another.

This also ensures that the quality of the product when it comes to being made is to a really high standard.

So we've got a design specification, and a manufacturing specification.

Now they are written slightly differently.

So, like before, we actually need to go through what some of the key areas are when writing a manufacturing specification.

It is bullet pointed like the design specification but there are different points that mean different things.

The first one, when we're writing a manufacturing specification is quantity.

Now quantity is a word that actually you may know but actually might not fully understand.

So let's make sure we say that word, quantity.

Great.

Quantity is just really how many units you actually want to manufacture.

So you might only want to make one or two of these, or you might want to make several thousands.

But it's really important the manufacturer knows this so that they can make the right amount.

Because if they make the wrong amount, they might have too many or not enough, and that's really not good.

The next area is materials.

Let's say materials.

Great, well done.

Now, materials I think we understand, and we have put that into our design specification, but it also needs to go into our manufacturing specifications as well.

And this is the importance of making sure that information is not misunderstood.

What materials are going to be used to make this product? Same as with the design specification as it is in the manufacturing, but really crucial for its success.

The next point is measurements.

Let's say measurements.

Great, well done.

What are the exact measurements this time? Now before, when I talked about the function, I just said it needs to hold a certain amount of fluid, but this time if we're writing a manufacturing specification we need to think about actually, what are the real sizes for this product when we are manufacturing it? And then we need to talk about features.

So let's say features.

Great, well done.

What features are going to be built into this product? That way then then, when the manufacturer is manufacturing the product, they know what to expect to be building into it.

That way there's no surprises, and again, no misunderstanding from the designer to the manufacturer.

Lastly, testing.

Testing is really, really important.

Let's say testing together.

Brilliant, well done.

We must make sure that we test the product because if we don't, we cannot be sure on the quality.

If you think of any of the toys or any of the products that you have at home, I guarantee every single one will have been tested before it was sold to you.

That way they can guarantee that the product works and is safe to do so.

Now, if we go back to our water bottle, let's do a manufacturing specification for this water bottle.

Now the first one is quantity.

So I've said in this situation that this water bottle would be mass produced.

What that means, is that you would be making thousands and thousands of the same type of product.

And I've said there meaning thousand plus examples.

So the manufacturer would know to be making more than a thousand examples of this water bottle.

Next is materials.

So I've kept with the same material from the design specifications to the manufacturing, but this time I've added one more in.

I realised that yes the body could be made from aluminium, but the top of the cap itself that screws in, needs to be made from plastic.

So I have made sure that is written in to my manufacturing specification, that way, the manufacturer knows.

Next is the measurements.

So this time I've set, instead of the fluid, I've set about the height and the diameter.

So it's 25 centimetres high by seven centimetres in diameter.

So that's a circle going around, from one side to the upper* of the circle.

Next features.

You'll notice in the picture there's a clip on the top of the water cap.

So I've said that actually the clip needs to be made as well, so it can fix onto a bag or a backpack.

Again, by telling the manufacturer this in the specification, there is no misunderstanding.

Then we need to talk about testing.

So the bottle will be dropped to check that it's strong and it's got good strength.

That way, I know that if this bottle is dropped by somebody when using it, it's not going to smash or break or spill the fluids.

And that would be the testing that we would do to check the quality.

We could also tip it upside down and check the lid to make sure it's on good and tightened, if it actually leaks.

And these again, just check the quality of the finished product.

Now, same as with the design specification, I want you to take that product again that you've chosen.

And I want you to now write the manufacturing specification.

Make sure you put lots of detail into your points as you did with the design specification, and you see with my example of a manufacturing specification.

Do make sure that there are clear links between the design and the manufacturing specification, so there is no misunderstanding if this was ever to be manufactured.

Make sure that that product you've still got to have because you're going to need to look at it, to be able to understand and answer some of the points in the manufacturing specification.

So pause the video here, write your manufacturing specification next to your design specification on your exercise book or a piece of paper, and then we'll come back into the last area of today's learning.

Good luck.

Welcome back.

And I hope you were successful in writing the manufacturing specification for your chosen product.

Now we need to move on to your specification.

Now, we understand the difference between the design specification and the manufacturing specification, which is great, because we now need to write both specifications for our shelter that we had started in previous lessons.

It's important to remember that all the work that you have been completed up until this point, will support you writing your specification.

So the design brief, the research, the client, all of that will come together to write your two specifications, which is great.

Now, this is what you need to be doing.

In your exercise book, I want you to write both you're design specification and manufacturing specification using those key words bullet pointed to be able to clearly show and answer the questions to be successful.

Make sure that when you're writing your design and manufacturing specification there is clear links between the two, so that there is no misunderstanding of the design process.

Now, let's have a look at an example.

This is for my shelter.

So if we start with the design specification, think about the aesthetics.

So for my shelter, I'm going to talk about the shape, and my shape for the shelter is going to be hexagonal.

So I've set for the aesthetics the shelter would have a hexagonal design.

I've also spoken about the cost.

Actually the cost of the shelter will be no more than 500 pounds.

Actually, I've got to think that this is going to be quite an expensive shelter to cover different areas within the primary school.

So it's going to cost a bit but I don't want it cost too much.

The customer is the primary school children and the teachers that will sit under it.

Again, we've spoken about this in the design brief, in the client research, the secondary research, and we'll just bring it all together within our specification so it's really clear and easy to understand.

Next is the environment.

I've said that the materials should be recyclable.

I've not said exactly what materials at this point but I'm saying that they are, must be, they must be recyclable.

Safety, this shelter must have no sharp edges because if it does it could hurt or injure the children or the teachers sitting underneath it.

So again, that's really important that I list that in my specification.

Next is the size.

Well I've actually said that it needs to be big enough to allow people to fit underneath it, so that actually they can be sheltered.

And in this situation, I've said that you should have two tables being able to fit underneath it.

So again it's not specific sizes like with the bottle example I gave, but I've set a criteria point that it needs to be able to hold two tables underneath it.

Function, so the function is it must protect people from the weather.

That's really obvious, really clear.

If that doesn't do that then it's not meeting what we've originally set out.

And finally, I'm now talking about the materials.

So I've said aluminium as a material to be used to support the canvas that goes at the top.

Again that links nicely with the environment points because as we've said earlier, aluminium is recyclable, so it will be environmentally friendly.

So that's my design specification example.

Now, let's move on to the manufacturing specification example.

So the quantity is actually, there's only going to be one of these built at the primary school.

So I've said that, one built for that primary school specifically.

I don't need any more than that unless anyone asked me for it, but in this situation, we're just saying the one.

Next is the materials.

So I've said that the body of the actual shelter itself would be made from aluminium, but the canopy that actually will cover people to protect them from the weather would be made from canvas, which is a fabric, and that again, can provide that shelter so that people don't get wet or they don't get hot from the sun, whatever it might be.

And again, I've listed that so that the manufacturers would know that.

Next is the measurements.

So here I've actually listed what measurements I think are going to be the right sizes for the shelter.

I've not said it needs to be able to do this, I've actually specifically set them.

So I've said it would be two and a half metres high by two metres wide.

That should be roughly about the right size to fit two tables underneath it, which is perfect.

Next is the features.

So I've actually specified here in the manufacturing specification, that underneath the canopy, I'd like some lighting fitted.

That way if it's dark or the clouds are covering the sun on that day, you could turn the lights on and still illuminate the areas underneath it so the people sitting there, eating, drinking, talking, learning, whatever it might be, can still see their work area.

And then lastly testing.

So I have said, that water would be poured onto the canopy to check that it is water resistant.

If the water drips through the canopy, then it's obviously not going to do its job and people aren't going to use it.

So again, that is an area of testing I think needs to happen.

You might think something different and that's exactly what I want to see in your specifications.

So I want you to pause the video here and I want you to write both your design specification and your manufacturing specification for your shelter.

Remember all the work we've done up to this point with the design brief, the primary and secondary research, the analysis, the clients, that all comes together to write both of your design and manufacturing specification.

So pause the video here, good luck, and we'll come back to conclude the lesson afterwards.

Welcome back, and I hope you got on really well with writing both your design specification and manufacturing specification for your shelter.

And that's it for today's lesson.

We've done a huge amount of learning, and hopefully you now have a clear understanding as to what your shelter is going to be.

When we get onto the design stuff.

We've understood in today's lesson what a design specification is and how we write one, as well as what a manufacturing specification is and how we write one of those.

And then lastly, the most important is that you have now successfully written both your design and manufacturing specifications for your shelter.

I would love to see the work you've done.

And as if you can get permission from your parents or carers to share your work online, please do so with some photos using the hashtag #LearnwithOak.

I look forward to seeing you in our next lesson where we're going to start the designs.

Take care, see you soon.

Bye bye.