Form, fit and function: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:06, 21 May 2024

Latest revision as of 13:08, 8 August 2025

(12 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Concept in design processes}}

'''Form, Fit, and Function''' (also '''F3''' or '''FFF''') is a concept used in various industries, including manufacturing, engineering, and architecture, to describe aspects of a product's design, performance, and compliance to a specification. F3 originated in [[military logistics]] to describe interchangeable parts: if F3 for two components have the same set of characteristics, i.e. they have the same shape or ''form'', same connections or ''fit'', and perform the same ''function'', they can be substituted one for another.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=James W. |title=Structure for a Defense Software Reuse Marketplace |journal= ACM Ada Letters|date=May–Jun 1994 |volume=XIV |issue=3 |page=88 |doi=10.1145/181468.181473 |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/181468.181473}}</ref> The idea behind F3 is to contractually require the original manufacturer to provide the customer (US government) with the free use of F3 data so that the customer can [[second source]] the part and thus enable [[competition]] between multiple suppliers. In practice, F3 is usually used not for final products (like entire [[weapon systems]]), but for the procurement of components and

{{more footnotes|date=October 2017}}

subsystems.{{sfn|Deets|1985|loc=Abstract}}

'''Form, Fit, and Function (F3 or FFF)''' is a concept used in various industries, including manufacturing, engineering, and architecture, to describe aspects of a product's design, performance, and compliance to a specification. F3 refers to a set of characteristics or requirements that are essential for the design and compatibility of products, components, or systems, and can have legal considerations in regulated industries like aviation and defense (e.g., for technical data rights and configuration management).<ref name="ECFR252">{{cite web |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-2/subchapter-H/part-252/subpart-252.2/section-252.227-7015 |title=Title 48, Chapter 2, Subchapter H, Part 252, Subpart 252.2, Section 252.227-7015 |publisher=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="GlobalSpec">{{cite web |url=https://www.globalspec.com/reference/60484/203279/chapter-11-configuration-management |title=Chapter 11: Configuration Management |publisher=GlobalSpec |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="NASA">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/reference/6-5-configuration-management/ |title=NASA Procedural Requirements: Configuration Management |publisher=NASA |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref>

TheFFF conceptrefers originatesto ina theset 1960s,of andcharacteristics inor somerequirements casesthat asare form-fit-function.<refessential name="DTIC">{{citefor webthe |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0700066.pdfdesign |title=Form-Fit-Functionand |publisher=Defensecompatibility Technicalof Informationproducts, Centercomponents, |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref>or Thesystems, Unitedand Statescan (US)have Government formallylegal recognized itconsiderations in theregulated legalindustries incorporationlike ofaviation Publicand Lawdefense 98-525(e.g., regardingfor technical data rights and designconfiguration changesmanagement).<ref name="USCodeECFR252">{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfoecfr.gov/contentcurrent/pkgtitle-48/STATUTEchapter-982/pdfsubchapter-H/STATUTEpart-98252/subpart-Pg2492252.pdf |title=Public Law 982/section-525 |publisher=U252.S. Government227-7015 |accessdatetitle=2023-10-14}}</ref>Title F348, canChapter also2, referSubchapter toH, thePart ability of a replacement unit or technology upgrade to be compatible with existing systems252, orSubpart be compatible with change control procedures (e.g252.2, NASA'sSection use in reliability via military standards)252.<ref name="NASA2">{{cite web |url=https://nepp.nasa.gov/docuploads/6000C904227-3093-44CA-96A78169BC195A26/Commercial%20Plastic%20Microcircuits%20A%20Total%20Solution%20For%20Military%20Applications.pdf7015 |titlepublisher=CommercialElectronic PlasticCode Microcircuits:of AFederal Total Solution For Military Applications |publisher=NASARegulations |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="DLA1GlobalSpec">{{cite web |url=https://quicksearchwww.dlaglobalspec.milcom/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=69354reference/60484/203279/chapter-11-configuration-management |title=QuickChapter Search Document11: 69354Configuration Management |publisher=Defense Logistics AgencyGlobalSpec |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="DLA2NASA">{{cite web |url=https://quicksearchwww.dlanasa.milgov/reference/6-5-configuration-management/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=67840 |title=QuickNASA SearchProcedural DocumentRequirements: 67840Configuration Management |publisher=Defense Logistics AgencyNASA |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref>

The concept originates in the 1960s, and in some cases called "form-fit-function".<ref name="DTIC">{{cite web |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0700066.pdf |title=Form-Fit-Function |publisher=Defense Technical Information Center |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref> The United States (US) Government formally recognized it in the legal incorporation of Public Law 98-525 regarding technical data and design changes.<ref name="USCode">{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-98/pdf/STATUTE-98-Pg2492.pdf |title=Public Law 98-525 |publisher=U.S. Government |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref> F3 can also refer to the ability of a replacement unit or technology upgrade to be compatible with existing systems, or be compatible with change control procedures (e.g., NASA's use in reliability via military standards).<ref name="NASA2">{{cite web |url=https://nepp.nasa.gov/docuploads/6000C904-3093-44CA-96A78169BC195A26/Commercial%20Plastic%20Microcircuits%20A%20Total%20Solution%20For%20Military%20Applications.pdf |title=Commercial Plastic Microcircuits: A Total Solution For Military Applications |publisher=NASA |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="DLA1">{{cite web |url=https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=69354 |title=Quick Search Document: 69354 |publisher=Defense Logistics Agency |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="DLA2">{{cite web |url=https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=67840 |title=Quick Search Document: 67840 |publisher=Defense Logistics Agency |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref>

== Alternate Uses ==

Line 18 ⟶ 20:

'''Function''' The function of a commodity is the action or actions it is designed to perform. For software, the function means the action or actions the software performs directly related to a defense article or as a standalone application.

=== By Clickfold Plastics, Inc. ===

'''Fit''' refers to the ability of the part or feature to connect to, mate with, or join to another feature or part within an assembly. The “fit” allows the part to meet the required assembly tolerances to be useful.

'''Form''' refers to such characteristics as external dimensions, weight, size, and visual appearance of a part or assembly. This is the element of F3 that is most affected by an engineer's aesthetic choices, including enclosure, chassis, and control panel, that become the outward "face" of the product.

'''Function''' is a criterion that is met when the part performs its stated purpose effectively and reliably. In an electronics product, for example, function can depend on the solid-state components used, the software or firmware, and quite often on the features of the electronics enclosure selected. Poorly placed or sized ports and misleading or missing labeling are two of the most common ways in which an enclosure can fail the function criterion.

==== Note on Source ====

The above definitions were modified from the original source, which is no longer available from the original webpage. Also, the company's new website no longer hosts their own F3 definitions.<ref name="Clickfold">{{cite web |url=https://www.clickfoldplastics.com/form-fit-function.html |title=Understanding the Role of Form, Fit, and Function |publisher=Clickfold Plastics, Inc. |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="ClickfoldNewSite">{{cite web |url=https://customplasticenclosures.com/form-fit-function.html |title=Understanding the Role of Form, Fit, and Function |publisher=Clickfold Plastics, Inc. |accessdate=2023-10-14}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

== Sources ==

* {{cite book |last=Morris |first=R. |title=The fundamentals of product design |year=2009 |publisher=AVA Publishing |isbn=978-2-940373-17-58 }}

* {{cite book |last=Norman |first=D. |title=The design of everyday things |year=2002|publisher=Basic Books |___location=New York |isbn=0-465-06710-7 }}

* {{cite thesis | last1=Deets |first1=Douglas M. |title=The use of form, fit, and function in the acquisition of major weapon systems |date=1985 |publisher=Naval Postgraduate School |___location=Monterey, California |degree=Master's |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36714841.pdf}}

{{Refend}}

[[Category:Product design]]

{{contract-law-stub}}