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Manufacturing cost estimation usually takes place prior to the actual start of production, and as such is a forecast of manufacturing costs. The estimation is done based on software using information derived from the designers´ drawings or sketches. Since a major portion of the cost of a product is committed during the design phase, this work is intended to provide basic knowledge and tools to the designer to enable more cost-effective designs.

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Chaminda Perera earned his BS degree in production engineering in Sri Lanka. After working as a lecturer, he came to the USA. He completed his Master´s degree at Ohio University in 2004 and PhD in 2010, studying solid oxide fuel cells using coal derived gas as fuel. At present, he is doing postdoctoral work on PEM fuel cells for vehicles.

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