Cost Modeling for Design Justification

Product cost models are usually developed after the product design has been completed. As a result, the economic trade-offs made throughout the design process are often made on an ad-hoc basis. As an alternative, a product cost model can be developed for use through the design process. This procedure will give more accurate cost information and will enhance decision making during the design process. This simultaneous development of the product design and cost model is termed design justification, implying the design is economically and functionally justified as it is developed. In this paper a framework is presented for design justification and the results from a prototype of a system are given.