A product specification sheet defines the measurable, functional, material, packaging and labeling requirements a supplier must meet. It should be controlled by revision and linked to the purchase.
The operating decision
Use clear units, tolerances, test methods, drawings and approved references. Mark mandatory requirements separately from preferences.
What to keep
Retain the approved revision, change history, authorizations, supplier acknowledgment and purchase orders that used it.
| Area | What the record should show |
|---|---|
| Control | Use clear units, tolerances, test methods, drawings and approved references. Mark mandatory requirements separately from preferences. |
| Evidence | Retain the approved revision, change history, authorizations, supplier acknowledgment and purchase orders that used it. |
| Tradeoff | A supplier quotation that says according to sample leaves too much undefined. The specification should carry the requirements that survive loss or replacement of the sample. |
A practical limitation
A supplier quotation that says according to sample leaves too much undefined. The specification should carry the requirements that survive loss or replacement of the sample.
Related definitions: supplier qualification, strategic sourcing, landed cost.
