aPriori is a great way to start talking about the details of part costs.
What do you like best?
When using aPriori to model a part cost, it is very clear that the 'process' and machines used to build a part are what contribute to the final costs of the part. It is a very handy way to show people exactly where cost comes from. A while back I was told by an experienced costing engineer that the final cost of a product is a result of the process used to make a part. Knowing what is part of the process, lets us talk about the details that are part of the cost. This chance to interact
What do you dislike?
There isn't much of a downside, the start of the conversation about how a cost is calculated is the beginning point of where we can start to educate users on cost. How it is a result of the steps that go into the making of the part. This then feeds back into the design cycle and it helps all of us.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
If you are considering aPriori, i would suggest visiting with aPriori to setup a meeting with a current customer to discuss their usage and experience.
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
We are moving our design engineers into the aPriori world, using the digital factories built by our manufacturing teams. This lets our designers focus their designs on the capabilities of our factories. This leads to fewer changes after release, and a better utilization of the factory.