As part of an Government funded project around Smarter Manufacturing, we are currently evaluating the feasibility of a software platform that could revolutionise the way product manufacturing costs are estimated. The software would provide estimates at both the early requirements phase (i.e. pre-CAD) and subsequently during the live design process itself (i.e. evolving CAD models).

Your participation in this (8 minute) survey will help shape the digital manufacturing revolution. We will reward (at random) 10 of the people who complete this survey with 1 year's worth of free access to the beta version of software when it is available.

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* 1. What best describes your current role in product development? You can tick multiple if several apply to you.

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* 2. Are you involved in defining a product's requirements and aware of the general costs associated with injection moulding?

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* 3. Have you ever aborted a project because the cost of tooling or unit cost was going to be too expensive?

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* 4. Have you ever had to redesign a fully detailed part to reduce the cost of the part and/or tool?

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* 5. Do you currently estimate the likely cost of an injection moulded part and tooling before you have created any CAD (i.e. at the requirements phase)?

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* 6. How do you come up with cost estimates once you have 3D CAD for your injection moulded parts?

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* 7. Have you ever seen or used software that can estimate the tooling cost using text based requirements and/or 3D data?

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* 8. Have you ever seen or used software that can estimate piece part costs using text based requirements and/or 3D data?

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* 9. Prior to creating 3D CAD, what would you consider to be an acceptable (%) margin of error when you make an estimate for the price of a plastic moulding?

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* 10. Prior to creating 3D CAD, what do you consider to be an acceptable (%) margin of error when you make an estimate for tooling cost?

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* 11. Once you have detailed 3D CAD, what do you consider to be an acceptable (%) margin of error for tooling costs?

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* 12. Once you have detailed 3D CAD, what do you consider to be an acceptable (%) margin of error for moulded plastic part costs?

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* 13. If you have ever underestimated a tooling cost at the requirements/pre-CAD model stage, what was the largest (%) cost difference between your estimate and the actual cost of tooling?

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* 14. How do you currently track costs as you are evolving a CAD model?

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* 15. Is there currently or in the immediate future going to be a company mandated requirement to evaluate lower carbon footprint material or process for new products?

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* 16. If your company currently uses manufacturers overseas, are you considering reshoring some or all of this work due to the following reasons?

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* 17. Have you or any colleagues in the company ever investigated using a more environmentally friendly or sustainable material (e.g. recycled or bio-based plastics)?

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* 18. Have you ever used a regional based tendering platform (e.g. website where only US or UK based injection moulders or sheet metal fabricators can bid for your tender)?

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* 19. We are designing a software platform that seeks to solve many of the challenges highlighted in this questionnaire. Please rank the following features by way of perceived value.

  No value Some value Significant value
1) Based on a set of product requirements (i.e. no 3D CAD required) it can estimate costs for both injection moulded parts and associated tools - enabling changes to requirements and/or business models.
2) Based on a 3D CAD model uploaded to the website, it can estimate injection moulded parts and associated tools costs - enabling accurate cost estimation and tracking as your design evolves.
3) Easily submit designs for tender to local Injection Moulders for formal quotation.
4) Collated and rank the quotes based on the credentials you are seeking from a manufacturing partner.
5) Compare more environmentally sustainable options against virgin materials

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* 20. How much would your company pay as either a monthly subscription or pay per use for software that provided all of the previously mentioned features?

  Monthly Subscription Cost Per Estimate
Cost

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* 21. Would you prefer to pay for the cost estimates on a pay per use or pay per month basis?

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* 22. Please provide your details to be in the running to receive 1 of 10 free passes to a year's worth of access to the Beta version of the software when available [approx. mid-2022].

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