aPriori

Great tool for cost negotiation

Avantages :

I like the ability to modify details the VPEs and processes to more accurately model unique processes and specific features of complex parts. I also like how aPriori very clearly indicates which features are driving your overall cost, through the cost breakdown and part summary. When discussing parts with engineering and with suppliers, it is incredibly useful to be able to drill down to specific operations and have discussions around tangible times and costs. It is also very helpful to distinguish between cycle time and setup time as this helps to highlight part volume as a cost driver.

Inconvénients :

The software sometimes has difficulty adjusting to different monitor resolutions (especially very high resolution monitors which use a default zoom) which results in menus being cut off and difficult to navigate ( I am able to resolve this by changing my monitor resolution when using aPriori). Also, more of a knit-picky complaint, but I have a difficult time thinking in seconds, so having things like cycle time displayed in seconds requires me to do some mental math to conceptualize the amount of time spent on each operation. Both of these cons are greatly outweighed by the value provided by the software and overall really aren't problems at all.

Powerful

Commentaires : The tool gives an edge to over other tools in the Product Cost Management. Helps to reduce the cost, optimize the design and bring down the time to RFQ process

Avantages :

The Product is easy to use. The UI is very crisp. The out of the box software covers all the major commodity manufacturing processes. The team in aPriori constantly enhances the capability through version upgrades. The database is also very vast, Covering more than 75 regional libraries for Labor, Material and Machine data. The best part is the ability to customize the process logic and data. aPriori comes with its own scripting language where one can modify/add logic or rules in the backend which can replicate the particular methodology of manufacturing a component. Similarly adding labor, machine and material data. Other features like Design to Cost(DtC) to optimize the design , Cost Insight Reports to get the different analytical reports to costed part, CAD plugins to start the tool directly from any CAD tools make this tool right pick for OEMs to effectively cut down their product cost.

Inconvénients :

The tool sometimes takes longer time to cost a component, lags while connecting to server. This will get worse as the complexity increases.But this can be resolved by moving to Cloud. Some of the other things are logics & data are generic and based on the type of industry you may need to customize the tool.

Honest Apriori Review

Commentaires : Poor. I have high hopes for the tool but it needs to become more user friendly as advertised and the output needs to get closer to actual cost. Right now I can't trust the quote from the tool or use it in any meaningful way. The best part of it is for concept parts at the moment to decided between two different designs.

Avantages :

I like that I can quickly compare two prototype concepts and get a relative cost difference. I also see the value in having a software that could be easy to use and dump a part in to get cost in a few clicks.

Inconvénients :

I think there is a huge gap in actual cost vs apriori cost. I don't think it is as user friendly as advertised. The software has odd quirks and poorly set defaults on the interface. If a cost is off, there are too many parameters to check to understand why, which requires advanced users to troubleshoot. The VPE doesn't get updated often enough. I can't cost painted parts. The weld tool is junk, hard to use and takes too long. Weldments always quote way off of actual cost. Special materials are not in the list unless manually added. Our common steel types are not set as default so I have to search for them in the list each time. It would be nice if the material could pull in automatically from Creo. I have been told the tool can help save cost by recommending better thicknesses, clearance hole sizes, or tolerances, but these are chosen based on our standards and best practices so I have not seen any valuable cost reductions from recommended geometry changes. The material nesting tool is totally inaccurate because our manufacturing group uses their own software to nest laser cut parts. Sometimes it chooses the wrong default manufacturing processes because it is looking for the cheapest way to make a part but not how we actually would. Ex. I've seen laser cut parts default to water jet and we don't have that capability so I have to go in and manually change the process. The costs for piece parts are starting to approach actual cost but assemblies are way off.Im out of characters

aPriori, a major cost saving contributor within Sorucing and Design to Cost

Commentaires : aPriori is a great tool in our company and supports our Product Management Process in a great way, within our Engineering organization with the Design to Cost capabilities, where it creates transparence and identifies cost savings and cost avoidance. And for Sourcing it provides strong arguments for fact-based negotiations, and challenge suppliers with price increase requests

Avantages :

The level of details, that is possible to drill down to. Showing exactly the impact on the full price when simulating with specific cost elements in the cost break down Furthermore a highly transparent and very easy to use interface, and a very quick cost guide with input of only a few mandatory and vital informations - which leads to a first price indication within just a few minutes. Very strong convincing tool for fact-based negotiations with suppliers, being able also to establish an open book, along the discussions of individual cost drivers

Inconvénients :

Generally I du not have any. But in some cases for advanced users, a broader tool selection within machining cost models could be nice

aPriori Software Review

Commentaires : - I've been using the tool for almost 3 years and I've learned a lot about metal-mechanic manufacturing.
- The aPriori support team is always open for help.
- The regional database is accurate and receives up-to-date information.

Avantages :

We've been using the software aPriori in my department for 3+ years helping the supply chain in cost reduction projects. It is a reliable tool and accurate at process groups such as stock machining, sheet metal, and 2-Model Machining. We have accomplished some successful cases with products ending in cost reduction negotiation. It is primordial to work together in order to get beneficial results.

Inconvénients :

The learning curve can be slow at the beginning but once you get familiar with the modules and know how to move around you'll get better and will get optimal input from the software. What I like least: the welding tool selection, the measurement tool, and secondary process availability.