OBJECT-ORIENTED PRODUCT MODELING FOR EARLY ASSEMBLY COST ESTIMATION

Although an early assembly cost estimation can lead to decreased manufacturing cost, existent methods do not support sufficiently such an estimation. Therefore, an object-oriented product-modeling framework for the early estimation of assembly costs for new or prototype products manufactured as a unique-manufacture or in small series by means of manually or hybrid assembly systems is presented in this paper. Based on the systematic engineering design theory critical product factors with assembly cost relevance are classified in an object-oriented scheme. Then, based on the fundaments of the systems engineering theory an object-oriented class structure is established in order to introduce the assembly.