When Rick Tillotson, Research Assistant in the Manufacturing Technology Division at Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory, needed an effective tool to calculate production cost estimates in undersea technologies for the U. S. Navy’s Simulation Based Design Program, he turned to PRICE Systems, a leading producer of forecasting software.
Rick discovered PRICE Systems’ applications after completing a “cost estimating” search on the Internet. His was initially interested in PRICE’s ability, speed and efficiency in calculating production cost estimates at the conceptual design stage of a project. Rick explains:
“We needed cost estimating software that could operate as a server
in an integrated design tool
we were developing. Our initial impressions of the software were that
it was powerful and very fast.
It uses many product and organizational variables as inputs and returns
detailed
cost estimates almost immediately.”
When asked to name a key feature of the software that he would recommend to others, Rick did not hesitate: “The responsiveness and helpfulness of PRICE personnel.”
PRICE Systems’ hands-on technical support sets the industry standard. The proactive approach the consultants take in anticipating and answering their clients’ questions and needs includes instructing them on how to better utilize the forecasting technology and walking them through the process of adapting the technology to better address their specific needs. In addition to on-site support, extensive training on all forecasting models and client-only web sites, PRICE Systems allows clients access to a technical support person 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This approach has helped make loyal customers out of high-profile corporations and institutions such as Boeing, Chase Manhattan and the United States Air Force.
Rapid and accurate estimates in the shortest amount of time possible are critical to success in today’s demanding environment. PRICE Systems provides clients with a wide variety of tools and services that allows them to achieve their business goals faster and more efficiently. The project management forecasting models created by PRICE Systems are used by many industries in both the private and public sector. These models give their clients the estimate costs within 5 percent of actual costs for all types of equipment and software from concept development to production and deployment.
About Penn State ARL
As a university center of excellence in naval science and technologies,
with preeminence in undersea missions and related areas, the Applied Research
Laboratory provides solutions to problems in national security, economic
competitiveness, and quality of life.
In fulfillment of this mission the Laboratory...
· Performs basic and applied research, exploratory development,
advanced development, and manufacturing technology in support of the Navy
technology base
· Contributes to the educational objectives, research goals, and
public service outreach of the Pennsylvania State University
· Champions the transfer of advanced technologies and manufacturing
processes, in partnership with industry and Navy research development
centers, to acquisition programs and fleet operations, as well as to other
government agencies and the private sector
ARL has enjoyed more than 50 years of excellence and success serving
the Navy, private industry, and education through its many research and
development efforts.