Systems, methods and computer program products for modeling costs and profitability of a good
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsScott H. Mathews, Kyle M. Nakamoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods and computer program products for determining a learning curve value and modeling an associated profitability of a good are provided. According to one method of determining a learning curve value, recurring costs of producing each unit of the good are modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Nonrecurring costs of producing each unit of the good are then modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Next, the learning curve value is determined based upon the recurring costs model and the nonrecurring costs value such that the sum of the recurring costs and nonrecurring costs at the determined learning curve value is minimized over the potential learning curve values.
Claims32
A method performed by execution of computer-readable program code by at least one processor of at least one computer system, the method comprising:
- generating a model of a cost of a first unit of a good as a function of potential learning curve values, wherein generating a model of the cost of the first unit of the good comprises:
- selecting a unit cost to produce the good, and determining a fixed cost to produce the first unit of the good based upon the unit cost;
- determining a variance factor as a function of potential learning curve values based upon a variance and a benchmark learning curve value;
- and
- generating a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values based upon the variance factor and the fixed cost;
- determining, using at least one of the processors, the cost of the first unit of the good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon the model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- and
- generating, using at least one of the processors, a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value.
A method performed by execution of computer-readable program code by at least one processor of at least one computer system, the method comprising:
- determining, using at least one of the processors, a cost of a first unit of a good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- forecasting a market including randomly selecting a predefined number of units of the good based upon a market potential distribution;
- generating, using at least one of the processors, a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value, wherein generating a model of recurring costs comprises generating a model of recurring costs further based upon the forecasted market;
- and
- generating a model of profitability of the good in the forecasted market based upon the recurring costs model and a demand model.
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor configured to generate a model of a cost of a first unit of a good as a function of potential learning curve values, including being configured to:
- select a unit cost to produce the good, determining a fixed cost to produce the first unit of the good based upon the unit cost;
- determine a variance factor as a function of potential learning curve values based upon a variance and a benchmark learning curve value;
- and
- generate a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values based upon the variance factor and the fixed cost;
- wherein the processor is also configured to determine the cost of the first unit of the good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon the model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values, and
- wherein the processor is further configured to generate a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value.
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor configured to determine a cost of a first unit of a good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values,
- wherein the processor is further configured to forecast a market including being configured to randomly select a predefined number of units of the good based upon a market potential distribution,
- wherein the processor is also configured to generate a model of recurring costs to produce a good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value, wherein the processor is configured to generate the model of recurring costs further based upon the forecasted market, and
- wherein the processor is additionally configured to generate a model of profitability of the good in the forecasted market based upon the recurring costs model and a demand model.
A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program portions stored therein, the computer-readable program portions comprising:
- a first executable portion configured to generate a model of a cost of a first unit of a good as a function of potential learning curve values, including being configured to:
- select a unit cost to produce the good, determining a fixed cost to produce the first unit of the good based upon the unit cost;
- determine a variance factor as a function of potential learning curve values based upon a variance and a benchmark learning curve value;
- and
- generate a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values based upon the variance factor and the fixed cost;
- a second executable portion configured to determine the cost of the first unit of the good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon the model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- and
- a third executable portion configured to generate a model of recurring costs to produce a good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value.
A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program portions stored therein, the computer-readable program portions comprising:
- a first executable portion configured to determine a cost of a first unit of a good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- a second executable portion configured to forecast a market including being configured to randomly select a predefined number of units of the good based upon a market potential distribution;
- a third executable portion configured to generate a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value, the third executable portion being configured to generate the model of recurring costs further based upon the forecasted market;
- and
- a fourth executable portion configured to generate a model of profitability of the good in the forecasted market based upon the recurring costs model and a demand model.
A method performed by execution of computer-readable program code by at least one processor of at least one computer system, the method comprising:
- generating a model of a cost of a first unit of a good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- determining, using at least one of the processors, the cost of the first unit of the good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon the model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- and
- generating, using at least one of the processors, a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value.
A method performed by execution of computer-readable program code by at least one processor of at least one computer system, the method comprising:
- determining, using at least one of the processors, a cost of a first unit of a good for a selected potential learning curve value based upon a model of the cost of the first unit of the good as a function of potential learning curve values;
- forecasting a market including randomly selecting a predefined number of units of the good based upon a market potential distribution;
- and
- generating, using at least one of the processors, a model of recurring costs to produce the good based upon the cost of the first unit of the good and the selected potential learning curve value, wherein generating a model of recurring costs comprises generating a model of recurring costs further based upon the forecasted market.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.