SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DESIGN OF A COMPONENT

A design system is accessible to a designer and a plurality of manufacturers. The design system comprises a first user interface configured to receive design information for a component from the designer. The design system further comprises a second user interface configured to receive manufacturing information from the plurality of manufacturers. The manufacturing information comprises at least process cost information. The design system further comprises a database comprising the manufacturing information associated with each of the plurality of manufacturers. The design system further comprises a cost estimation module. The cost estimation module is configured to generate a cost estimate for producing the component for each of the plurality of manufacturers. The cost estimate is at least partially based on the process cost information. The cost estimation module is further configured to output the cost estimate for one or more of the plurality of manufacturers to the first user interface.