Method and System for Analyzing a Plurality of Parts

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and system configured to analyze a plurality of parts, each of the parts having at least one part characteristic. The method includes the steps of establishing at least one repository of the part characteristics, establishing a relationship between at least a portion of the parts and a cost characteristic; and, analyzing the portion of the parts in response to the relationship.

1 . A computer based method of analyzing a plurality of parts, each of the parts having at least one part characteristic, comprising;
 establishing at least one dynamically accessible repository of said part characteristics using a computer processor;   establishing a relationship between at least a portion of said parts and at least one of said part characteristics using said computer processor; and   analyzing said portion of said parts in response to said relationship using said computer processor.   
     
     
         2 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said part characteristics includes at least one of a cost, a weight, a material type, a finish type, and a volume. 
     
     
         3 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said part characteristics includes a volume characteristic associated with at least one time period. 
     
     
         4 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing said portion of said parts comprises:
 establishing a future part, said future part having at least one part characteristic;   establishing a cost characteristic associated with said future part in response to said relationship and at least one of said characteristics of said future part.   
     
     
         5 . A method, as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the step of establishing said future part cost characteristics comprises the steps of:
 establishing at least one cost driver associated with said future part in response to said Relationship;   establishing said future part cost characteristic in response to said relationship, and said at least one future part cost driver.   
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said cost driver is at least one of a supplier, a material type, a weight, a finish type, and a volume. 
     
     
         7 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing said relationship further comprises the step of:
 automatically establishing an analysis technique; and establishing said relationship in response to said analysis technique.   
     
     
         8 . A method, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the step of automatically establishing said analysis technique further includes the step of automatically establishing said analysis in response to said part characteristics associated with said portion of said parts. 
     
     
         9 . A method, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the step of automatically establishing said analysis technique further includes the step of automatically establishing said analysis technique in response to a parts analysis objective. 
     
     
         10 . A method, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said parts analysis objective is one of a characteristic prediction and a relationship explanation. 
     
     
         11 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing said portion of said parts in response to said relationship further comprises the step of establishing at least one cost driver in response to said relationship. 
     
     
         12 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing said portion of said parts in response to said relationship further comprises the step of comparing a plurality of parts supplied by a supplier in response to said relationship.