Patent ID: 7292965

Claim:
A computer system for cost estimation, comprising: an interface layer for selecting one or more designs and one or more descriptive parameters which influence cost, wherein said parameters comprise at least one of part dimensions, part weight, and descriptive parameters related to a cost element; one or more cost models operative to estimate costs and comprising algorithms calculated from a plurality of discrete points or parametric relationships between the descriptive parameters and an estimated cost, said cost models being based upon at least one of process-oriented manufacturing cost estimates, estimates utilizing industry standard and process-specific cost information, and historic costs associated with each manufacturing operation and/or cost element for other types of life cycle cost models; software programmed to receive the selected designs and the selected descriptive parameters from the interface layer and pass the selected designs and descriptive parameters to the cost models; an output display operative to display cost estimates estimated by the cost models for the selected designs and selected descriptive parameters; an interface module configured to allow at least one of the software and cost models to interface with another software application so as to allow for input from said other software application and communication with said other software application; and an editing module operative to modify a database containing the algorithms and descriptive parameters.