Overview
ISO 7533:2024 - Technical product documentation (TPD) - Identification of specifications in the technical product documentation (TPD) - defines rules and graphical conventions for uniquely identifying specifications within technical product documentation. Published as the first edition in 2024, the standard helps teams share and trace individual requirements (geometrical, size, surface, material, process, appearance, etc.) across the product lifecycle to improve communication, traceability and conformity activities.
Key topics and requirements
- Unique specification identifiers: Every specification in a TPD shall have a unique identifier to enable unambiguous reference.
- Specification indication identifier format: Identifiers are positive integers placed between the characters
< and > (for example <12>). Font should match the surrounding TPD text.
- Enumeration rules: Organizations choose an enumeration order (e.g., view-by-view, left-to-right, top-to-bottom). Leading zeros are recommended to avoid ambiguous search results (e.g.,
002).
- Placement on drawings / models:
- GPS (geometrical product specification) identifiers are placed inline adjacent to the specification.
- Text specifications can show the identifier before or after the text.
- In model-based definition, identifiers may be in metadata, visible on the model, or both.
- Derived specification identifiers:
- When one indication defines multiple specifications, use a postfixed index:
specificationIndicationIdentifier.X (e.g., <12>.1, <12>.2).
- For size specifications with upper/lower limits, enumerate upper before lower.
- Repeated and compound features:
- When specifications apply to repeated features, expand identifiers with a
# and the feature number (e.g., 64#2) or use Unique Integral Feature Identification (UIFI) per ISO 7499.
- Each repeated feature must itself be uniquely identified on the TPD.
- Scope exclusions/notes: Qualitative surface requirements are not identified; complex population cases with flag notes are out of scope.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 7533:2024 is intended for practitioners who need reliable cross-referencing between documentation, production and quality systems:
- Design and CAD/PLM engineers (drawing and model standardization)
- Manufacturing engineers and MES integrators (process control, production monitoring)
- Quality, metrology and inspection teams (inspection reports, tolerance stack-ups)
- Reliability and compliance teams (FMEA, failure investigation, concessions, declarations)
- Technical authors and document controllers managing drawing change logs and engineering change requests
Related standards
- ISO 7499 - Unique integral feature identification (UIFI) - referenced for repeated features
- ISO 10209 - Vocabulary for TPD terms
- ISO 3098-5 - Character set details (used for
<, >, # characters)
- Other organizational or company standards may define complementary enumeration rules
Using ISO 7533:2024 improves traceability and reduces ambiguity in technical product documentation, enabling consistent communication across design, manufacturing and quality assurance processes.
Open preview (PDF)Technical product documentation (TPD) — Identification of specifications in the technical product documentation (TPD)