Method of knowledge-based engineering cost and weight estimation of an HVAC air-handling assembly for a climate control system

A method of knowledge-based engineering cost estimation of a HVAC air-handling assembly for a climate control system on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a parametric model of an HVAC air-handling assembly design using a knowledge-based engineering library stored in a memory of a computer system;
• selecting a component part from the parametric model of the HVAC air-handling assembly;
• determining if the component part is manufactured or purchased;
• determining a manufacturing cost parameter for the component part from the knowledge-based engineering library and using the manufacturing cost parameter to estimate a manufactured component part cost, if the component part is manufactured;
• determining a purchased component part cost from the knowledge-based engineering library, if the component part is purchased;
• and
• using a summation of the manufactured component part cost and purchased component part cost as the cost estimate of the HVAC air-handling assembly design.

A method of knowledge-based engineering weight estimation of a HVAC air-handling assembly for a climate control system on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a parametric model of an HVAC air-handling assembly design using a knowledge-based engineering library stored in a memory of a computer system;
• selecting a component part from the parametric model of the HVAC air-handling assembly;
• determining if the component part is manufactured or purchased;
• determining a manufacturing weight parameter for the component part from the knowledge-based engineering library and using the manufacturing weight parameter to estimate a manufactured component part weight, if the component part is manufactured;
• determining a purchased component part weight from the knowledge-based engineering library, if the component part is purchased;
• and
• using a summation of the manufactured component part weight and purchased component part weight as the weight estimate of the HVAC air-handling assembly design.