Abstract: Techniques for managing and estimating supply costs, by drilling down through detailed component lists of tree structured component specifications and rolling up pricing estimates based on predetermined, projected and available criteria and automatically accounting for costs in an organized manner. The costs may be analyzed from a historical perspective, accounting for future costs based on historical cost data within a given past or future date range. The costs may also be analyzed based on average costs of available costed items. Quotes can be received from suppliers for use in estimating supply costs. In addition, scenarios such as partnership splits, where multiple suppliers manufacture and supply common components to buyers at same or different prices, can be taken into account.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a description of a product design is received. The description is analyzed to determine terms describing the product design. The determined terms are compared to a plurality of stored records. A subset of the stored records is determined based on the comparison. The stored records are considered relevant to the description of the product design. A set of recommended contacts associated with the subset of stored records is then determined. The recommended contacts are considered to have knowledge relevant to the description of the product design. At least one of the subset of stored records and the set of recommended contacts is output. For example, at least one of the subset of stored records and the list of recommended contacts may be displayed on an interface that is being used to input the description of the product design.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a description of a product design is received. The description is analyzed to determine terms describing the product design. The determined terms are compared to a plurality of stored records. A subset of the stored records is determined based on the comparison. The stored records are considered relevant to the description of the product design. A set of recommended contacts associated with the subset of stored records is then determined. The recommended contacts are considered to have knowledge relevant to the description of the product design. At least one of the subset of stored records and the set of recommended contacts is output. For example, at least one of the subset of stored records and the list of recommended contacts may be displayed on an interface that is being used to input the description of the product design.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing and estimating supply costs, by drilling down through detailed component lists of tree structured component specifications and rolling up pricing estimates based on predetermined, projected and available criteria and automatically accounting for costs in an organized manner. The costs may be analyzed from a historical perspective, accounting for future costs based on historical cost data within a given past or future date range. The costs may also be analyzed based on average costs of available costed items. The system and method can alternatively enable a buyer to receive quotes from suppliers to be used in estimating supply costs. Such a system may further include the ability to adapt to various supply scenarios, such as partnership splits, where multiple suppliers manufacture and supply common components to buyers at same or different prices.