Implementation of SolidWorks Costing : The Implementation Process and Cost Estimation in Sheet Metal Industry

Abstract: Cost of products is an important factor for a company’s competitiveness and profitability. Both manufacturers and designers could affect product costs, either by deciding the manufacturing methods or the design of products. Right decisions will win orderings or sell products, but for right decisions to be taken, quick and accurate cost estimations are needed. To facilitate the cost estimation process, SolidWorks developed a new module, SolidWorks Costing, which performs quick cost estimations based on the geometry of 3D-models directly in the CAD-software SolidWorks. This master thesis was commissioned by SolidEngineer, SolidWorks’ reseller. The purpose of this thesis was to find the implementation possibilities of SolidWorks Costing. The possibilities were investigated by studying how cost estimations were made in industry as well as in SolidWorks Costing and by developing an implementation plan for the software. In the pre-study, the functionality of the software was investigated. Cost estimation for sheet metal was further studied and implemented. Interviews with companies in the sheet metal industry were performed to find how cost estimations were currently made, and a case study with two partner companies was performed to test the implementation possibilities. The interviews showed that even if all interviewed companies used their own methods, all companies used the same parameters to estimate production costs. The current methods were irregular and time-consuming; still the manufacturers trusted them completely and were skeptical to computerized cost estimations until the case study was performed. In Case 1 the average accuracy of SolidWorks Costing was 9 % compared to the company’s actual cost calculations, meanwhile the accuracy of Case 2 was the same as the company’s cost estimations. Both partner companies were satisfied with the results and case study partner 2 considered permanent implementation of the software. Based on the experience from the case study and gathered implementation theories, an implementation plan of SolidWorks Costing was also developed.