Product Specifications Manager
The goal of Specifications Manager is to provide a system in which everyone involved in the process of designing and sourcing products can collaborate as a team, regardless of their physical location or area of responsibility. Specifications Manager gives enterprise users and trading partners universal and immediate access to product specifications on-line, reducing the chance for miscommunication and mistakes.
One set of data, yet customized views
Specifications Manager provides a single global repository for data, yet allows different ‘views’ of the data to be defined. SoftShoe recognizes that each participant in the process is responsible for different parts of the data. Marketing is interested in the broad attributes of the shoe as a whole, others are responsible for component prices and sources, Technical needs to know detailed information about each of the materials in the product, etc. Every User participating in the process shares the same set of data about the product, but does not have to sacrifice usability or ease-of-use since each User can define his own ‘view’ of the specifications. No longer is it necessary for different offices to have different forms or spreadsheets; each User can tailor the screen to their needs.
Integrated to SoftShoe
The processing modules of the SoftShoe Suite
-- Sampling, Commercialization, PreProduction Planning and Sourcing -- are linked to Specifications Manager, allowing immediate access to specifications throughout the life cycle of a product. Specifications data includes header information, component details, drawing and pictures, file attachments, a comments thread and a revision history. Specifications Manager can be accessed from within SoftShoe or directly from Windows (though you must still use your SoftShoe User ID and password).The Specifications Workspace
Rather than force Users to adopt new practices, SoftShoe simply provides a User-definable Workspace for the definition of Components and attributes. The Specifications workspace consists of 3 components: Header Information, Component Details and Attachments (drawings, pictures, graphics, files, etc.). Users define which component sets and attributes they see. Access is controlled by status (also configurable). Although SoftShoe automatically recalls the relevant Specification, it is also possible to work on several products at once.
Customizable workspace
In the Specifications workspace, Users can re-order the attributes columns of the components to their organizational requirements; for instance a User responsible for pricing might display Cost, Usage and Vendor as their first 3 columns. Users can also change the width of the columns to meet their personal requirements. Simply choose "Save this view" on the pop-up menu (accessed by right-click in the component panel) and the system will always remember that View for that User.
Component Library – standardizing to facilitate communication
Specifications Manager has a customizable library of components that must be set up during implementation. Components can be defined for all types of products. The component library provides two benefits: it makes the building of specifications easier and, as importantly, it sets a standard set of terms for the whole company. Often, people calling the same component different things, or breaking up a component in to parts (or consolidating different components into one), cause delays in sampling or production. Having a common set of terms and references focuses internal resources back onto producing product specifications.
Templates – easy to use
The Component Library is an extensive list of components is for all possible types of products. The components that are listed in the lower panel of the Workspace (previous page) come from the selected Template (note "Template" name in the upper right-hand corner). Templates work sort of like a filter so that, for example, if a User is going to design a sandal, they select the "Sandal" template and it filters out all the components that are unrelated to sandals. You can always add and delete components once you have started the product definition process.
Attachments
In addition to Components, the Specifications module also allows you to add additional information. On the "Attachments" page you can add, view and manage files such as line drawings, digital photos, scanned pictures, etc. If you have a CAD system or prefer to share modifiable files (such as Adobe, Corel.) you can attach those file to the record in the same way you would if you were sending e-mail.
Benefits
 | Ensure product quality |
| Reduce engineering change costs |
| Bring new and revised products to market quickly |
| Provide product information access throughout your global enterprise |
| Create and control changes to the product, graphics and documentation |
| Eliminate downstream delays and reworks |
| Decrease the chance of wrong product winding up in inventory |
| Maintain complete product information records, including a history of changes |
