aPriori, today announced that it has been selected by Calsonic Kansei North America, a Tier 1 supplier of automotive parts and systems integration. The company will use the software platform to automate its product cost estimating process and increase the speed and accuracy of its responses to customer requests for quote (RFQs). aPriori's solution will enable Calsonic Kansei to rapidly estimate the cost impact of different design changes and alternatives so it can determine the best sourcing options and quickly and confidently respond to new business opportunities.
Calsonic Kansei North America Cost Analysis Training (CAT) Team will initially evaluate deployment of aPriori within its US Purchasing group. They will consider how well Buyers will be able to quickly estimate costs for products and parts based on a variety of potential routings and manufacturing processes to identify the best cost solution. And use aPriori to monitor supplier costs against Calsonic Kansei developed "should cost" targets.
"With aPriori's intuitive computer-aided cost estimating platform, we expect to quickly estimate detailed part and tooling costs with accuracy we require," said Jeff Wiencek, purchasing manager, Cost Analysis Training (CAT) Team at Calsonic Kansei North America. "Having this capability would enhance our ability to identify the best and most cost-efficient solutions for our customers before tooling is built, providing us with an important competitive advantage.
"We selected aPriori platform for its potential to enable our buyers' to use their awareness of key cost drivers and ensures we are sourcing the parts and tooling we need for our customers at the right price," Wiencek added. "These practices help sustain and continue to develop the world-class capabilities of Calsonic Kansei North America's purchasing organization as well as our valued suppliers."
The aPriori software works with 2D user-guided input and leverages computer-aided design (CAD) and intelligent cost models to quickly and automatically generate detailed manufacturing analysis and cost estimates from initial designs. It also quantifies the impact of changes to product design, materials, manufacturing processes, volumes and location in real time. Calsonic Kansei will also use the software to create a centralized database of product costs while taking into account the variables associated with its different manufacturing locations.
"Calsonic Kansei is staying ahead of its competition by equipping its organization with the capability to source the best possible solutions for its customers and do it more quickly, accurately and efficiently," said Stephanie Feraday, president and CEO of aPriori. "The ability to investigate multiple design and routing alternatives and understand their cost implications in real time, is a huge advantage in the automotive business. They have the opportunity to drive tremendous ROI as a result."
