Clause 7.2.1 Determination of requirements related to the product

In order to able to provide a product that meets customers' expectations, it is necessary to know exactly what the requirements for the product are. For each product, an organization needs to consider:

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  The requirements are specified by the customer. For example, a car manufacture will need to know exactly the type, model, colour, required delivery time, etc. This includes requirements after delivery of product is complete, such as servicing of products or warranty activities


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  The requirements not specified by the customer. For example, a car manufacture will need to use special coatings and coating techniques in order to prevent rust.


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  Statutory and regulatory requirements: A car manufacturer must comply with numerous requirements that are imposed by regulatory bodies, for example safety requirements.


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  Other requirements considered necessary by the organization. For example, a manufacturer that wishes to focus on customers with high incomes will define specific requirements for the design of cars: size, mode; power and speed.

In 2008 edition, a note is added at the end of clause explains that post delivery activities include, for example, actions under warranty provisions, contractual obligations such as maintenance services, and supplementary services such as recycling and final disposal.

Activities like recycling and final disposal is applicable to many industry sectors such as those dealing in plastics, silicon chips, computer waste, asbestos waste etc. By including recycling and final disposal in product requirements and statutory and regulatory requirements in the scope of standard, taking certification in some sectors will definitely not be easy.

Statutory and regulatory requirements includes membership or registration with certain government, semi-government private bodies if required by law for examples registration required for provides chartered accountants services, chartered engineer services, etc.

What constitutes a product requirement

Product requirements vary from product to product, company to company and customer to customer. Some of the examples given below will clear the picture:

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  For a standard product manufacturer, such as thermo-wares or utensils, Product Number (some may call it Art Number or Design Number) along with quantity and required delivery date may be sufficient.


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  For a non-standard product manufacture, such as customized equipment, customer's drawing (or detailed requirement as may be perceived by the customer, sufficient to make design) along with quantity and required delivery date may be required.


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  For Standard Electric Wire Manufacturer stating wire size in square millimetre and appropriate product standard along with quantity and required delivery date may be sufficient.


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  For Specific Electric Wire Manufacturer detailed wire construction, appropriate product standard along with quantity and required delivery date may be required.


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  In case a customer is giving repeat order stating or referencing previous order number or delivery document number or warranty number, as may be appropriate, along with quantity and required delivery date may be sufficient.
  Note that delivery requirement makes part of product related requirement

External Document Reference: Documentation Kit

Process of Sales
Order Acceptance Form