Tolerances analysis and cost evaluation for product life cycle

In this paper a statistical method for tolerances analysis and cost evaluation is presented. Statistical tolerances analysis is performed by assuming the Chase and Greenwood mean shift model, providing an original systematic approach to evaluate the mean shift factor. The proposed approach allows for the analysis of manufacturing costs for different confidence levels of the variables to be optimised. The interaction between customer requirements, design parameters and process variables, are taken into account by incorporating the process planning models and conceptual and embodiment design solutions. The cost analysis is performed by selecting the most appropriate driver for each component of the cost due tolerances. Cost driver parameters are evaluated over product life cycle, in different design domains (customer, design and process) and also include the customer satisfaction (quality loss).