DFMA Part Cost Analysis Service

How DFMA Part Cost Analysis Can Save You Money

As a manufacturer, your competitiveness depends on your ability to understand cost drivers early in the development lifecycle. The sooner you anticipate costs, the more you can revamp your processes to improve cost efficiency.

Here’s how DFMA part cost analysis can give you the insights you need to save money and streamline development.

What is a part cost analysis, and how can it benefit me?

Part cost analysis, often referred to as “should costing,” is a foundational element of the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) methodology. It’s a process that determines the true, optimal cost of a component before you even begin production. In other words, it’s your way of knowing what the part should cost under ideal circumstances, so you can shave down your real-world costs to match. This is crucial because the majority of a product’s total cost is locked in during the initial design phases.

Our part should-cost analysis service, using DFMA software, where we do the analysis for you and provide you with actionable information you can use right away. It gives you:

“What If” Analysis

The model you receive from a DFMA part cost analysis is a powerful “what if” tool you can use to explore different outcomes. We will have already filled in the basics from our massive global database of labor, materials, and process costs. You’ll be able to fine-tune the factors that affect your costs to see how your decisions change the ultimate should-cost figure. For instance, you could test:

• What if we manufactured parts in a different region?
• What if we swapped the materials used to make this part?
• What if we increased or decreased the sheet size for sheet metal parts?
• What would happen if material prices changed by X%?

Negotiation Leverage

Once you know the true costs for your chosen component, you can negotiate with your suppliers. This means that supplier quotes won’t blindside you. Instead, you can shop around for a better option that more closely fits your realistic should-cost figure.

Stronger Decision-Making

With quantifiable data points at your fingertips, you can make informed trade-offs as you conceptualize the manufacturing and assembly processes. For example, changing to a different material may increase part costs by a few cents each, but it will save so much time and effort during assembly or service that you more than make up for the up-front investment with savings down the line.

What kind of results will I receive?

Each analysis includes all the data you need for an accurate should cost estimate. The example below shows the type of output you’ll receive once we’ve completed the technical analysis of the part’s geometry. You’ll find the results highlighted in color-coded sections labeled “basic data,” “part basic data,” “laser cut data,” and “press break data.” The figures presented here are reliable and provide a solid foundation for future modifications.

You can duplicate the model to run your own “what if” scenarios based on new supplier quotes or alternative design options under review. For instance, you might explore:

• What happens if you select a different sheet size?
• How does the cost change if material pricing shifts from $2.11 to $2.50 per pound?

The updated calculations will appear in the cost results area located in the lower-left corner of the interface.

Contact Boothroyd Dewhurst to start saving money with the DFMA part cost analysis service.

Continuing the status quo without each part being optimized for cost efficiency is leaving money on the table. A simple redesign, based on our part cost analysis, may save you millions in future development costs.

If you're ready to have us do a part cost analysis to determine what your parts should optimally cost, contact us now.

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