Aerospace Manufacturing Cost Prediction from a Measure of Part Definition Information

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">At Rolls-Royce, a study determined that manufacturing part cost can be estimated from dimensional data in the part definition. The method appears to be more accurate than mass-based parametric models or process simulation cost models. Additional advantages are: part definition information is causally related to part manufacturing cost; part definition information is easily available during the design phase; and mature part cost can be estimated even with new manufacturing processes.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The theoretical basis for the model uses Shannon’s theory of information, work performed at MIT on calculating cost from information, and the results of the study at Rolls-Royce.</div>