Abstract: A method for negotiating a purchase price for an assembled good to be delivered to a purchaser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes storing a value representing an estimated number of assembled goods desired for delivery in a particular time period, and using a computer program to estimate an optimal number of setups per the time period and an optimal order quantity per setup, based on the value and other stored information, and based on automatic calculations by the computer program. The method further includes automatically estimating an optimal should-cost purchase price for the assembled good based on the value, the estimated optimal number of setups, and the estimated optimal order quantity, and using the estimated optimal should-cost purchase price to negotiate a final purchase price for the assembled good.

Abstract: A method for negotiating a purchase price for an assembled good includes providing, by a purchaser, should-cost values associated with the assembled good into a first version of a first data structure, thereby creating a first file. The method additionally includes providing a second version of the first data structure to a seller. The second version of the first data structure has input portions permitting the seller to input seller should-cost values that include a cost rate value indicating a cost rate for performing an operation associated with the assembled good, and one or more time values indicating a time required for performing the operation. The method further includes receiving a second file having seller should-cost values provided into the second version of the first data structure by the seller. A forum is provided for negotiating a selling price for the assembled good based on at least the second file.