Characteristic

From Elsmar Cove Quality Assurance and Business Standards Wiki

Characteristic - In Quality Assurance, a characteristic is typically a definable or measurable feature of a process, product, or variable.

A Couple Dictionary Definitions:

Dictionary 1:

char·ac·ter·is·tic - Pronunciation: "ker-ik-t&-'ris-tik, "ka-rik-

Function: noun

1 : a distinguishing trait, quality, or property

2 : the integral part of a common logarithm

3 : the smallest positive integer n which for an operation in a ring or field yields 0 when any element is used n times with the operation

Dictionary 2:

Characteristic (Char`ac*ter*is"tic) (?), a. [Gr. ¿: cf. F. charactéristique.]

Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. "Characteristic clearness of temper." Macaulay.Characteristic (Char`ac*ter*is"tic), n.

1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope. "The characteristics of a true critic." Johnson.

2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.

ISO 9000 3.5.1

characteristic

distinguishing feature

NOTE 1 A characteristic can be inherent or assigned

NOTE 2 A characteristic can be qualitative or quantitative

NOTE 3 There are various classes of characteristics, such as following:

- physical (e.g. mechanical, electrical, chemical or biological characteristics);

- sensory (e.g. related to smell, touch, taste, sight, hearing);

- behavioral (e.g. courtesy, honesty, veracity);

- temporal (e.g. punctuality, reliability, availability);

- ergonomic (e.g. physiological characteristic, or related to human safety);

- functional (e.g. maximum speed of an aircraft);

See also

References