It is quite clear that the cost structure of a product is, to a large extent, determined by decisions taken in the design phase. By taking the costs at every stage of a design project into consideration, the Design to Cost approach helps to:

• make the right choices, based on cost, at every stage of the design project,
• analyze needs and functionality in order to assess the suitability of the solution, versus its cost,
• make the detailed budget of the project quite clear to everyone involved, within their scope of action and for their share of the global budget.

The expected benefits include:

• reduced design, development and production costs of new products, by remaining as simple as possible,
• earliest possible arbitration between functionality, complexity and cost.

Argon Consulting assists its customers in their (re)Design to Cost assignments in:

• the definition of prioritized requirements,
• the map of the product functionality, processes and associated costs,
• the integration of every phase of the product design project,
• understanding of the detailed budget by everyone involved, within their scope of action and globally,
• development of a detailed and budgeted work plan,
• design and development options that take account of costs,
• support for the initiative and the associated change management process (communication, training, coaching, etc.).