Whether used in the area of manufacturing, O&G, safety, or engineering, data sheets allow companies to efficiently inform their customers about the performance of a specific product, its technical characteristics, as well as describe how and when to use the product; they can also be used for internal communication and understanding.
Data Sheets
Data sheets must be properly organized and structured for a user to easily understand them. They should also contain a sufficient amount of product-related information. Therefore, conveying the information with a table, bulleted list, or image–using easy-to-read fonts and appropriate spacing/margins–allows the information to appear organized.
A successful data sheet typically includes the following elements:
- Summary or general description – an overview of the product’s functions
- Specifications – describes the needs and capabilities of the product
- Diagram, drawing or picture – allows the user to view a visual of the product
- Minimum and maximum ratings – lists allowable supply voltage, power consumption, etc. of the product
- Application information – describes the fitted applications for the product
- Operating conditions – lists conditions such as voltage, ranges, timing information, temperature ranges, etc. of the product
- Performance characteristics – explains how different inputs and outputs affect the performance of the product
- Dimensions – includes minimum and maximum dimensions of the product
- Ordering information – includes how the user can purchase the product, whether it’s a website, phone number, or email
- Packaging information – lists what is included in the packaging with the product
- Warranty information – lists the warranty information for the product
Although most data sheets may not contain the same elements, all of them are designed to provide the user with a means to quickly reference various qualities and attributes of the products they are working with or are interested in purchasing; in addition to aiding both the designer and manufacturer by providing them with a quick-guide.
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