Functional Specification

The first step of an automation project is to define the requirements of the project. Typically, the main deliverable of this effort is a functional specification. A functional specification defines what the system should do, and what functions and facilities are to be provided. It provides a list of design objectives for the system.

The automation project requirements that are documented in the functional specification flow from the process design. Can-Technologies engineering team with collaboration of your process engineers define the process sequences and critical control parameters for the system.

The functional specification is based on a user-requirement specification, which identifies the system requirements with regard to data, interfaces, environment and constraints. The functional specification defines the automation project requirements and becomes the basis for the design specifications. Can-Technologies performs a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) in order to confirm that the requirements in the functional specification are met.

From Can-Technologies engineering team's perspective, the functional specification is the basis for design. It defines what the system will do, but does not say how to do it. The functional specification becomes a contractual document defining the scope of a project. Inputs to the functional specification include the process description, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), process-flow diagrams (PFDs), and an equipment list.

Using the functional specification can provide many benefits, including the standard terminology which facilitates clear communications between Can-Technologies engineering team and your process engineers and management team.

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