Although you may have used the PDS throughout the Concept Design Phase, you may have missed something, a key element, a dimension, a British Standard, a Customer Requirement. Any one of these if not identified may work its way into the design such that when you complete, you’ll find a glaring error causing a lot of re-work, and as stated in the Clarifying the task and Scope section, this time costs money.
Take this time to review the PDS, ensure your concept is accurate to the PDS.
However, as mentioned in the Form PDS section, it is a dynamic document. This means it may change throughout the project. For instance your product may now use a the bolt in Figure 1 to secure an electric motor. This would be governed by BS 7776 Torque for Threaded Fasteners, meaning your PDS would need to be updated to include this.
Figure 1 – Socket Cap Screw (Fastfix 2011)
You should highlighted changes with the date amended and which revision number it is as in Table 1. Also make it clear on the front of the document that this is a new revision so you can track changes throughout your group.
| Construction Product will be manufactured on-site using OEM mechanical fixings. |
This might be the PDS wording was originally written, Revision 1 |
| Construction Product will be manufactured on-site using OEM mechanical fixings assembled in accordance with BS7776 (Rev 2) |
This maybe the PDS wording in Revision 2. The Standards and Specifications section (references) will also need updating to include the full title of BS7776 |
Table1 – Revised PDS wording example.
You should not be making drastic changes, generally you will add to the document, as stated in the Form PDS section “by the end of the project, the PDS will describe in writing the product to be manufactured and marketed” (Dieter and Schmidt 2009: 111).
When you have fully reviewed your PDS, you may move onto the next section.
Back to Concept Design
Back to MAE Design Model