Product Cost Estimating Process Description

• A working solid CAD model is processed by a Geometry Assesssment engine and Geometric Cost Drivers (GCD's) determined.
• Based on user determined criteria, defined in the VMU's, the routing engine produces one or more candidate process routings for the user to select or compare.
• The estimated cost results are presented to the user in real time.

Virtual Manufacturing Units (VMU's) Defined

• A VMU includes the data and machines representative of available processes in a manufacturing cell, department, factory or groups of manufacturing entities. Typically, it includes the following data elements:-

• Materials and raw stock available to the unit.
• Manufacturing processes and routings supported by the unit
• Machines and tooling to support defined processes
• Process logic (how time standards are generated per process)
• Accounting Rates (e. g. material,  labour, overhead costs ...)
• Cost accounting logic / methodology

• VMU's can represent internal, off-shore or supplier facilities.
• VMU's are usually configured from a master cost database either by the user or via a consulting service.