Management of mechanical engineering design processes based on product cost estimates

Abstract

It is herein conjectured that the cost of a machine can be estimated early in the engineering process. Such estimation is based on an integral index of its informational (parametric) complexity. The index also factors in the properties of materials in use as well as the structural components of machine parts. The author has designed an original approach to the management of design processes, which approach is based on the structural index entropy. The entropy level decreases as the structure is optimized. Using the economic parameters should also help decrease such entropy. The author herein presents the instruments for estimating the parametric complexity of a structure. This index may then be used to calculate the projected costs of the structure.