Abstract: The specification of specific user policies in an object oriented environment is allowed prior to a search for factory objects. A ConstraintBuilder interface object is contained within an Object Management Group's (OMG) FactoryFinder object. The ConstraintBuilder object is a subclass of an abstract ConstraintBuilder interface, and contains a method which accepts specific policy information from a user, processes the information, and returns the policy controls in a format understandable by an underlying search mechanism. The policies embodied by ConstraintBuilder objects may then be considered during searches for factory objects in order to eliminate factory objects that do not adhere to the specified policies, thus allowing for control of factory objects returned by a search mechanism.