What is Specification Management Software?
Specification management software is a digital tool designed for managing product or project specifications. By collating, organizing, and tracking the must-have information for the task, relevant teams can maintain consistency, accuracy, and collaboration throughout the development process. Features like version control, document sharing, and collaborative tools ensure that the document will have detailed data required for the manufacturing department to develop the product.
Importance
Product specs are crucial in developing any product as they contain information like technical requirements, manufacturing instructions, and numerous others. This is more than just a list and, without product specification management software, problems like communication breakdowns, version control issues, and non-compliance with regulations could negatively affect the end product. Here are reasons why this is a must-have.
Improves collaboration – Transparency and the ability to access data are vital when developing products. The software provides these through cross-functional visibility, the use of product development templates, document sharing, and real-time updates.
Facilitates efficient workflow management – By automating repetitive and laborious processes like task assignment and approvals, team leaders can make better decisions faster.
Enhances quality control – Aligning industry standards with the specifications is challenging because the product goes through dozens of versions. Digital solutions can identify discrepancies and track configurations, ensuring quality every step of the way.
Ensures regulatory compliance – With a centralized document repository that allows data tracking, revision history, and audit prep, departments can better adhere to regulations.
Faster time-to-market – Delayed time-to-market puts companies at a significant disadvantage, increasing their costs, straining their resources, and damaging their reputations. The software prevents these issues from emerging.
Key Features
Product specification management software may be a stand-alone application or a module of a more comprehensive quality management system or a manufacturing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform. Whichever you decide to get, make sure it has the following:
Template repository
Central dashboard
Custom workflows
Search and filtering
Version control
Approvals
Document sharing
Task assignment
Incident management
Reporting with audit trail
Notifications and alerts
Collaborative tools
Integration
Mobile accessibility
Selecting the Right Specification Management Software
Most of the options described above are designed for companies in the construction industry, save two. SafetyCulture and DocXellent may be used for specification management in product development and manufacturing. It is important to take note of these distinctions so that you can choose which suits your business needs best. Take a look at the summary below before making your final decision.
*billed annually