Steps
1. Navigate to the Characteristics PowerSheet
From the Design Space Dashboard, locate the Characteristics widget or click Characteristics Sheet from the Design navigation menu.
2. Identify the Characteristic Row
Locate the characteristic work item you created earlier. Characteristics appear sorted alphabetically by title in the sheet view.
3. Set the Target Value
Click into the Target Value column cell for your characteristic:
- Enter the nominal specification value (e.g.,
3.3V for voltage, 25°C for temperature, 100mm for length)
- Include units of measurement in the value field for clarity
- Use numeric precision appropriate to manufacturing capability (e.g.,
12.50mm vs 12.5mm)
Always include units directly in the target value field (3.3V, 25°C ±2°C) rather than in the description. This ensures specifications appear correctly in control plan reports and manufacturing work instructions.
4. Define the Tolerance
Click into the Tolerance column cell:
- Enter the allowable deviation using standard notation:
- Bilateral:
±0.5mm
- Unilateral positive:
+0.2/-0.0mm
- Range format:
[2.8V, 3.8V]
- For non-numeric characteristics, use text descriptions:
"Visual inspection - no visible scratches"
- Leave blank if the characteristic is purely descriptive with no measurable tolerance
Support tickets indicate that Special Characteristics (SC) and Critical Characteristics (CC) must have defined tolerances. Auditors and downstream process engineers expect measurable control limits for all safety-critical parameters. Missing tolerances on classified characteristics trigger compliance gaps during ISO/TS 16949 or IATF 16949 audits.
5. Verify Classification Alignment
Check that the characteristic’s SC/CC classification badge (displayed in orange for SC, red for CC) aligns with your target and tolerance criticality:
- SC (Special Characteristic): Product features affecting safety, regulatory compliance, or assembly - strict tolerances required
- CC (Critical Characteristic): Features affecting customer satisfaction or functionality - moderate tolerances acceptable
- Unclassified: General features - wider tolerances may be acceptable
6. Save Changes
PowerSheet auto-saves changes when you click outside the edited cell or press Tab to move to the next field. Verify the green checkmark icon appears in the row to confirm successful save.
Verification
You should now see:
- Target value and tolerance populated for your characteristic
- Values visible in both the Characteristics PowerSheet and the Control Plan Risksheet (if the characteristic is linked to a control plan item)
- Characteristic specification displayed in the System Structure Navigator when viewing design requirements decomposition
See Also
