Method and systems for electronic assembly system pricing and customer benefit sharing

Abstract

A method is provided for pricing an electronics assembly system solution for a customer. First, with the aid of a computer model, a customer benefit to be realized through the use of the electronics assembly system solution is predicted. A customer benefit guarantee is then generated, based on the predicted customer benefit, and a message relating to the customer benefit guarantee associated with the predicted customer benefit is transmitted to the customer.

1 . A method for pricing a customer's electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: 
 a. modeling, with a computer, the customer's electronics assembly system in real time with the customer present to predict a customer benefit to be realized through the use of the electronics assembly system;    b. generating a customer benefit guarantee based on the predicted customer benefit, the customer benefit guarantee comprising a particular cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system; and    c. communicating a message relating to the customer benefit guarantee associated with the predicted customer benefit.    
     
     
         2 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method for pricing an electronics assembly system solution for a customer comprising the steps of: 
 a. predicting, with a computer model executed by a computer, a customer benefit to be realized through the use of the electronics assembly system solution;    b. generating a customer benefit guarantee based on the predicted customer benefit, the customer benefit guarantee comprising a particular cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system; and    c. communicating a message relating to the customer benefit guarantee associated with the predicted customer benefit.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the prediction is performed using a computer model that represents the electronics assembly system at a material flow level.  
     
     
         28 . The method-according to  claim 26 , wherein the step of predicting a customer benefit with the computer model comprises the steps of: 
 entering data into an input interface;    transferring data from the input interface to a modeling tool; and    building a simulation with the modeling tool utilizing the transferred data.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the simulation comprises a discrete event simulation.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the step of entering data is performed on a client device and the step of building the simulation is performed on a server device.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the input interface comprises a spread sheet.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the input interface comprises a web form.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the computer model comprises a customized user interface.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the prediction is performed using a computer model that represents the electronics assembly system and simulates an aspect of the behavior of the system.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the prediction is performed during a particular customer session.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 26 , comprising the further step of offering the electronics assembly solution at a price that is a function of the guaranteed customer benefit.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 26 , comprising the further step of offering the electronics assembly solution at a price that is a preselected fraction of the guaranteed customer benefit.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein value corresponding to the price for the electronics assembly solution is collected after the customer benefit is realized.  
     
     
         39 . A method for financing the price of a customer's purchase of an electronics assembly system solution, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an electronics assembly system solution;    b. computing a customer benefit associated with the solution;    c. computing a monetary value based on the customer benefit; and    d. collecting from the customer an amount based on the computed monetary value,    wherein the step of computing a customer benefit is performed using a computer model that represents the electronics assembly system and simulates an aspect of the behavior of the system, the computer model being executed by a computer.    
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of computing a customer benefit comprises modeling the electronics assembly system solution at a material flow level.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the step of computing a customer benefit comprises the steps of: 
 entering data into an input interface;    transferring data from the input interface to a modeling tool; and    building a simulation with the modeling tool utilizing the transferred data.    
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the simulation comprises a discrete event simulation.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the step of entering data is performed on a client device and the step of building the simulation is performed on a server device.  
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the input interface comprises a spread sheet.  
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the input interface comprises a web form.  
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the computed monetary value is based on actual customer benefit realized during use of the electronics assembly system solution.  
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the collected amount comprises a fixed price portion and a variable portion based on actual customer benefit realized during use of the electronics assembly system solution.  
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the computer model represents the system at a material flow level.  
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the computer model comprises a portion that simulates at least an aspect of the behavior of the system.  
     
     
         50 . A method for selling a customer an electronic assembly system solution, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. offering a performance-based contract for sale of the assembly system solution, wherein the price of the solution is a function of the performance of the solution;    b. upon customer acceptance, delivering the assembly system solution;    c. monitoring the performance of the assembly system solution; and    d. assessing compensation based upon the monitored performance and the price function,    wherein the performance of the system is predicted using a computer model executed by a computer, and wherein the computer model represents the electronics assembly system and simulates an aspect of the behavior of the system.    
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the step of predicting system performance comprises modeling the electronics assembly system at a material flow level.  
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the step of predicting system performance comprises the steps of: 
 entering data into an input interface;    transferring the data from the input interface to a modeling tool; and    building a simulation with the modeling tool utilizing the transferred data.    
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the simulation comprises a discrete event simulation.  
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the step of entering data is performed on a client device and the step of building the simulation is performed on a server device.  
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the input interface comprises a spread sheet.  
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 52 , wherein the input interface comprises a web form.  
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein the computer model represents the system at a material flow level.