Form, fit and function: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:43, 14 September 2024

Revision as of 21:44, 14 September 2024

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{{Short description|Concept in design processes}}

{{more footnotes|date=October 2017}}

'''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 |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/181468.181473}}</ref>

FFF 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>