Incorporating cost analysis in a multi-disciplinary design environment for aircraft movables

The design and production of aircraft structures is a highly cost-driven industrial activity. Advanced, more reliable cost-estimation techniques can help to improve competitiveness and reduce risk in the bidding phase. In this paper a design support framework will be presented that offers improved information and knowledge about new designs in an early stage of the development. The paper focuses on aircraft movables but similar frameworks can be built for other product families. The framework is based on the design and engineering engine architecture. The design and engineering engine formalizes the basic design cycle and comprises a multi-model generator (MMG) based on knowledge-based engineering principles that creates a smooth link between a parametric product model and different analysis tools, including a cost analysis tool. It will be shown that such an MMG can support the extraction of a cost engineering view on the product model that can be used in combination with proper cost-estimation relations to have more reliable cost information in an early stage of the design process. A cost analysis tool is presented that resembles a cost representation of a factory. The cost engineering view extracted by the MMG is fed into the cost analysis tool to give the designer an estimate of the cost consequences of his or her design choices. Emphasis is put on the influence of the choice of manufacturing concept on costs.