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MTI Systems Inc. (formerly Manufacturers Technologies) is the leading provider of cost estimating software for the manufacturing industry. The provide cost estimating, quoting and process planning software, and estimation services to companies worldwide. The company's main product, Costimator, has been implemented by over 1,400 companies in 22 countries.

History
MTI Systems Inc. was originally founded as Manufacturers Technologies in 1982 by Tom Charkiewicz. Prior to starting the company, Charkiewicz had 24 years of hands-on experience in manufacturing with companies such as Pratt & Whitney and Package Machinery. The company was founded as a software company developing a PC-based cost-estimating program. The product originally developed by the company was called Costimator Computer-Aided Cost Estimating System, later know simply as Costimator. The initial version of the software included manufacturing process cost models, material specifications, machine handling and labor standards. In 2001, the company changed its name from Manufacturers Technologies to MTI Systems Inc. It was that same year that they began offering an online consulting service for manufacturers. The service allows companies to submit their information to MTI via the Internet. Once the information is received, engineers from MTI use Costimator software to generate a cost estimation and send it back to the company.

MTI partnered with IBM in 2003 to help them create a personalized version of Costimator specific for the needs of IBM. The purpose of the customization was to help IBM's cost estimating team identify low-cost approaches to supply chain costs. MTI provided the software for IBM based on their requirements and also provided on-site training for the software. IBM later announced that the software had saved them in excess of $10 million in savings and avoidance. In 2010, the company hit a milestone when it secured a record number of international sales of their Costimator product. The bulk of these sales were derived from companies in Poland, India, China, Canada, Belgium and Mexico.

The company celebrated its 30th year in business in 2012.

Products
MTI offers three main products which include Costimator, Should Cost Estimating, and free tools (which include a Shop Rate Calculator and a Standards Handbook).

Costimator
Costimator was the first product offered by MTI. Launched in 1982, the software is a computer-aided cost estimating system that was designed to allow a manufacturing facility to estimate costs. The software is pre-loaded with material and standards library as well as hundreds of process and feature-based cost models. The data in the software is populated from respected industry sources from thousands of manufacturing organizations worldwide. The software allows companies to use the software as is or it can be edited specifically for the company using the software. It is said to decrease time spent on quoting and increase estimating accuracy for manufacturing estimators.

Costimator has been implemented by over 1,400 companies in 22 countries. In addition, the software is used by colleges and universities as a training tool to teach students cost engineering.

Should Cost Estimating
In 2001, MTI began offering an online version of Costimator which was the first cost estimation service ever available online. Labeled as Should Cost Estimating Service, the online version allows smaller businesses or businesses without an in-house cost estimating team to have access to estimating professionals. The service allows businesses to submit their project online via the MTI website. A professional from MTI will then use the Costimator software to return a detailed cost estimation to the business. MTI claims that the service allows companies of all sizes to have access to the same cost estimating tools.

Free tools
MTI offers a free shop rate calculator that can be used by estimators. This tool can be used similar to Costimator (and was originally created for Costimator) except it requires the user to enter direct labor, machine price, number of employees, and gross sales. It also has eleven default factors which include overhead costs and SG&A. They also offer free access to the Costimator Standards Handbook which contains more than 800 machine and piece handling standards and includes guidelines for the non-cutting costs of fabricating parts and assemblies.

Legal
In 1987, MTI Systems won a landmark case against competitor Rapid Cost who was said to have copied MTI's Costimator all the way down to the "misspelled words." Rapid Cost was ordered to remove their software from the market after it was found that they infringed on MTI's copyright of Costimator.