What is a Spec Sheet: Your Business’s Blueprint for Success!

A product specification sheet, commonly known as spec sheet,  is a product document that provides detailed information for building a new feature, functionality or a whole new product.

A spec sheet serves as a blueprint that guides a company in building a successful invention.  It also ensures consistency and accuracy during product development, manufacturing and quality control.

Moreover, a spec sheet is crucial as it helps ensure that the product meets the business expectations and the needs of your target market.

Every spec sheet’s components and outlines vary depending on the product and industry. However, the information provided should be clear and concise. Aside from the texts, adding images, sketches, and illustrations to make it more detailed is recommended.

No one size indeed fits all. However, these items below may serve as your guide of what is to include in your product spec sheet.

Key Characteristics and Specifications

Descriptive Information and Data

Creating products for our clients is our business. With two decades in the industry, a spec sheet has guided us in producing quality products that businesses need for marketing and promotion. That said, let’s closely examine how our team creates a customised spec sheet.

1. Receive the Brief From the Customer

First, we get specific product requirements from the client. Details include: product functionality, look, size, colour preferences, and other basic details. This helps us ensure that we will produce the product they need. 

2. Research and Brainstorm

After gathering all the details, our team will do research based on the information provided by the client. It includes checking related documents, products,and previous product ideas. This step allows us to understand the product better.

3. Creating Make Mock-ups

After thorough research and product brainstorming, we will create a preliminary version or mock-up.  This process enables us to visualise how the product might look and serves as a foundation for creating the spec sheet.

4. Build the Spec Sheet

Using the mock-up and information from the brief, we start putting together the spec sheet. We will summarize and include all the details. Likewise, the manager’s name, designer’s name, quantity, and packaging details. 

5. Check and Adjust

Once completed, our team will carefully review it and make the necessary revisions. We do this process to avoid errors and repeated work.

6. Approval and Sending to the Client

After ensuring that all is good and the information is well indicated, we then send it to our clients for approval. This will help us determine if we will adjust the data based on the client’s needs.

Once checked and approved, our team will communicate with our partner manufacturers for production.

7. Production

Once we receive approval from the customer, we begin the production process based on the approved spec sheet.

ODM goes through the China factory selection to ensure the right one is picked for the client and their product. This document is to review the client’s design, product and details before going into mass production at the factory.

This is the last chance to make changes, and once approval is signed, if the finished product does not satisfy the client but follows the specs sheet, they will be at fault. The main purpose of this document is to prevent clients from having defects in their custom promotional merchandise. So, it is super important that the approval sheet is clear and detailed.

When writing product specs, it’s important to use clear and concise language. The purpose of the sheet is to communicate the product’s requirements, thus it is important to avoid using unfamiliar and fancy words. Focus on your client’s needs and write for them.

Don’t forget that product specifications are a living document. You need to update them as the product evolves.

Ensure that everyone on your team has access to the specifications. It’s crucial that you have the same and exact instructions in order to create the correct specifications.

A product specification shouldn’t be a list of your dream features or future goals. Consider what you must accomplish to satisfy users and launch the product within your target timeline and market.

With all the technological advancements, it is easier now to find the tools and applications that will make the job easier. Don’t be afraid to test and applied the ones that matches your requirements.

Expand your horizons:

A product specification sheet is an essential document detailing a product–from its making to its key features and components. But having in different languages is also crucial. Learn why:

Having a better understanding on how to design and create your product specification sheet is important. Get to know more about the process here:

After approval of the spec sheet, the next step is developing and producing the product. Discover the key stages in manufacturing new ideas.

Start Creating the Blueprint of Your Success…

Needless to say, a product spec sheet plays a crucial role in any product development and launch. Understanding what it is and how it works can ensure the success of any project. Likewise, following the guide and best practices provided above can definitely guide your business.

Here at ODM, we always guarantee the best services and products, which is why spec sheets are important to us. Our clients do their part by checking all the details, requesting any changes, and making edits to the document to make sure everything is perfect and on track. Our in-house design team, Mindsparkz, is the people behind specs sheets to ensure the client sees an example of their products.

Contact us today and let’s work together to turn your amazing ideas into a reality!

All you need to know about product spec sheet!