A design system is accessible to a designer and a plurality of
manufacturers. The design system comprises a first user interface
configured to receive design information for a component from the
designer. The design system further comprises a second user interface
configured to receive manufacturing information from the plurality of
manufacturers. The manufacturing information comprises at least process
cost information. The design system further comprises a database
comprising the manufacturing information associated with each of the
plurality of manufacturers. The design system further comprises a cost
estimation module. The cost estimation module is configured to generate a
cost estimate for producing the component for each of the plurality of
manufacturers. The cost estimate is at least partially based on the
process cost information. The cost estimation module is further
configured to output the cost estimate for one or more of the plurality
of manufacturers to the first user interface.