Initial proposal for a general systems engineering methodology to early design phase cost/value estimation

Abstract

We propose that a systems engineering methodology may be applied in an effective interactive design environment for lifecycle cost estimation and value optimization in the context of a manufacturing enterprise. In order to optimize a product design for value, engineering and manufacturing businesses need to be able to estimate accurately product lifecycle costs during the early design phases of its development, because this is when the majority of these costs are deter-mined. Systems engineering defines realizing value as meeting stakeholder re-quirements and emphasizes formalizing these in order to link coherently the individual estimated costs of a design to the needs it fulfils. Furthermore, formalized requirement and design parameters are suitable for modelling and simulation, and we envision a systems model implemented within existing knowledge-based engineering tools embedded in a design environment. The results of this model may support design decisions, as well as reinforce systems engineering analyses in evaluating processes for value chain simulations.