A Design Automation System Supporting Design For Cost – Underlying Method, System Applicability and User Experiences

Paper in proceeding, 2005

The fact that software applications are getting more and more adaptable extends the possibility of in-house developed design systems. This calls for systematic methods that supports system development and ensures system functionality, quality and longevity. For this a number of underlying general criteria are expressed. In this work a method that supports development of automated systems for product design, process plan-ning and cost estimation is introduced. The method has been the foundation on which an automated system for variant design has been developed. The system applicability as a means of gaining cost effective design is presented through studies of: multi-objective optimization, what-if scenarios and sensitivity analyses. The work is completed by an evaluation of the three types of studies, the variant design system, and the underlying method that supports in-house development of automated systems. All this is done with respect to the under-lying general criteria.