Abstract: A computer system determines a quantitative measure of a manufacturer's capability to achieve a product requirement at an acceptable cost. This quantitative measure, called the manufacturer's capability curve, is a function relating a product requirement, such as a customer's need or a government regulation or other performance requirement of a component of the product, to a cost for achieving this product requirement. The use of the computer system is enhanced by following a methodology for identifying possible key characteristics as described below. This methodology allows for identification of the relationship of lower level features to higher level features of a product and identification of interaction between two or more features and their impact on product performance.