[ 彩材拆拆 x UNWRAP CMF ]
Ch13. Unwrapping CMF Design on Sample Signing
Ch13. 拆招CMF設計談做一個簽樣的動作

^{CMF is a specialized area within industrial design that focuses on the development of products‘ color, material, and finish. Unwrap CMF shares bite-sized stories with digestible contents for anyone and everyone, inspiring curious minds about CMF Design. Enjoy learning? Use the mentioned terminologies to kick-start your research journey. Messages are always welcome! LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️}

A few months ago, just as I was wrapping up at the job, I received a farewell gift from the designers, which came with a handmade card made of what we use everyday at work: CMF approval stickers.

I learnt about the usage of the stickers from my previous company and brought it to Motorola. It is useful in a way to make the signature more visible and the signing process more efficient. Although it is not a tool for every company, the duty of sample sign-off is however a “must-do” for most CMF designers, as well as for many industrial designers. _{(中文請見下方)}

Sample sign-off is a process where designers decide an acceptable limit range from the trial production. This limit range will be neatly arranged in a CMF limit board by the supplier, and used for the control of color difference and other CMF details.

Sample sign-off: The process of signing samples.
Golden sample: The most ideal sample.
Limit sample: A sample that is close to the golden sample with a slight deviation but can be accepted.
Limit range: As above, plural.
Limit board: As above, plural and arranged in a booklet.

Why is limit range needed? In actual mass production, it is impossible to achieve the exact same state as the golden sample, so it is necessary to define an acceptable range. The narrower the range, the lower the yield rate. It means more samples are excluded, leading to higher production costs, and slowing down the production speed.

Therefore, while paying attention to the color coordination between parts, designers also need to balance the trade-off between golden samples and yield rate, and define a reasonable CMF limit range.

^{CMF全稱為Color Material and Finishing，屬於工業設計旗下專注於產品色彩、材質、及表面處理工藝的關鍵一環。UNWRAP CMF 彩材拆拆圍繞著這個主題，以淺而易懂的小故事拆解CMF設計的日常。CMF學無止盡，善用CMF關鍵字繼續網上鑽研。討論交流請來信至 LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️}

幾個月前，正當離職交接之際，我收到了來自設計師們的告別禮物（哭），更具紀念意義的是隨之附上的卡片，運用了工作中的日常小工具：簽樣貼紙。

簽樣貼紙是我從前家公司學到、再帶到摩托羅拉的小工具，有利於簽名的可視度（畢竟多數樣品背面都烏漆媽黑）及易辨度（畢竟設計師的簽名都龍飛鳳舞）。雖然簽樣貼紙不是每個公司都會使用的工具，但簽樣這個動作卻是幾乎每位CMF設計師都需要接觸的職責，工業設計師亦同。

所謂簽樣，意指在試產的樣品中，由設計師定奪一個可接受的限度範圍。而這個限度範圍會被供應商整齊收納於CMF限度板（亦稱做限度冊、九宮格、樣品承認書等），被用於色差和CMF細節的管控，以這個限度定義能被接受的範圍。

簽樣（sample sign-off）：一個簽名在樣品上的動作。
標準樣（golden sample）：最理想的樣品。
限度樣 （limit sample）：接近標準樣，略有偏差但能被接受的樣品。
限度範圍 （limit range）：如上，複數。
限度板 （limit board）：如上，複數成冊。

為什麼需要限度範圍？實際量產中並無法達到和標準樣百分百一樣的狀態，所以需要定義一個能被接受的範圍。範圍愈窄，良率（yield rate）就越低，也代表被排除的NG樣品愈多，導致生產成本增高，或導致產能來不及趕上生產需求。

因此，在注意零件與零件之間協調性的同時，設計師也需要衡量在標準樣和良率的取捨，如何定義一個合理的CMF限度範圍。