Specification and development of cost-estimating databases for engineering design

Abstract

There is clear evidence within industries that designers have little access to cost information and therefore limited control over the product cost although their decisions have paramount effects. This is partially because the amount cost information is insufficient and the format is unsuitable. Cost accountants are always under great pressure of producing a wide variety of cost information for various users. This user group usually excludes designers. This paper aims to propose a framework for developing an intermediate cost database between the cost accounting system, which is the primary source of raw cost data, and the design for cost system. On the one hand, the structure and content of the cost database should allow and encourage designers to review their decisions in terms of costs. On the other hand, this cost database should be easy and simple for cost accountants to maintain.