THE USE OF MANUFACTURING COST DATA AT THE EARLY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STAGE OF A PRODUCT CONTINUALLY PROVES TO BE DIFFICULT. IN THIS PAPER, WE PRESENT A PROTOTYPE COST DATA USER INTERFACE TO BE INCORPORATED INTO A NEW DFM TOOL THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. NEW METHODS OF PROVIDING MANUFACTURING COST DATA TO DESIGNERS ARE BEING DISCOVERED, AT ISSUE IS HOW TO BEST DELIVER THIS INFORMATION.
