| Why have specifications? |
| Basic principles and specification types |
| Communicating your exact needs to the supplier |
| Formalising the specification |
| Benchmarking |
| The specification as a means of quality
management |
| Defining critical, major and minor factors |
| Performance factors |
| Tolerances |
| Essential vs. Desirable elements |
| Producing a specification that is achievable
and within budget guidelines |
| Sampling criteria and defining acceptable
defect levels |
| Working with your suppliers to define the
specification |
| Layout and design of the document |
| What to include in the specification and what
to omit |
| Use of technology |
| Including tests and methods for checking
performance and other characteristics |