A Subject for Standardization of Functional Evaluation

Abstract

Functional evaluation is not only a tool for product improvement through para meter design; it can also be considered from the consumer's viewpoint, as an aspect of commercial transactions. This paper is an interim report covering the first year of discussions, conducted by the Functional Evaluation Committee of the Japanese Standards Association, of the standardization of functional evalu ation for such transactions. Since the main purpose of functional evaluation in transactions is to compare performance, characteristic values do not have to be additive. The evaluation is directed mainly toward target functions, which are treated dynamically with consideration of signal and noise. The Japanese Industrial Standards cover only the basics of functional analysis, and do not specify signal and noise levels. The reason is to prevent the standards from becoming obsolete, and to let the supplier take responsibility for dynamically managing the signal and noise ranges.