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aPriori Technologies

aPriori Technologies

Overview

What is aPriori Technologies?

The aPriori Manufacturing Insights Platform automates and simulates the entire production process for a digital twin CAD model. The heart of the platform is its Digital Factories which generate an array of manufacturing data that can be used by product…

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Recent Reviews

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Sheet Metal-Process Group: Multiple users have praised the Sheet Metal-Process Group module for its ability to provide detailed operation …
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Never turning back!

9 out of 10
February 25, 2019
Presently it is being used within our Cost Modeling organization. The data and results are interpreted and fed into our engineering and …
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Pricing

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aP Pro

Custom

On Premise

aP Design

Custom

On Premise

aP Generate

Custom

On Premise

Entry-level set up fee?

  • Setup fee optional

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

How Much Will My Design Cost? (2023)

YouTube
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Product Details

What is aPriori Technologies?

The aPriori Manufacturing Insights Platform automates and simulates the entire production process for a digital twin CAD model. The heart of the platform is its Digital Factories which generate an array of manufacturing data that can be used by product design teams, cost engineers and sourcing specialists to make better decisions daily.


What are Manufacturing Insights?

aPriori’s Manufacturing Insights Platform simulates each step of the product manufacturing process, including both primary and secondary operations. The data generated by a manufacturing simulation helps product teams to identify and eliminate any potential design or sourcing related issues that would either slow down or stop the production process and cause delays to a product launch or inflation of manufacturing costs.


Identify & Eliminate Manufacturing Obstacles Before They Slow Down Production

Digital Factories provide manufacturability analysis and directional costing that give design teams and engineers an incentive to design for manufacturing (DFM), reduce engineering change orders (ECOs), and launch products on schedule. Digital factories also provide sourcing teams with the capability to compare production environments across an extensive range of manufacturing criteria to evaluate fully burdened manufacturing costs and inform site selection. For a given product design, digital factories can be used to identify and select less expensive raw materials, cheaper manufacturing processes offering faster cycle times, and alternative finishing options.


What is Digital Factory Software?

An aPriori digital factory is a combination of two key elements: aPriori Regional Data Libraries and aPriori Manufacturing Process Models. Out-of-the-box digital factories are a baseline configuration for a production deployment. They provide benchmark estimates and manufacturing guidance. The analyses produced are based on general and reasonable manufacturing practices and average rates not specific to an individual industry. aPriori Digital Factories can be configured to represent specific manufacturing practices and cost structures of your internal facilities or even those of a trusted supplier.





aPriori Technologies Features

  • Supported: aPriori can be configured on-premise or as a cloud-based solution
  • Supported: aPriori solves for manufacturability and cost drivers early in the development process
  • Supported: aPriori measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout a manufacturer’s supply chain

aPriori Technologies Screenshots

Screenshot of aP ProfessionalScreenshot of aP DesignScreenshot of aP GenerateScreenshot of aP AnalyticsScreenshot of aP Workspace

aPriori Technologies Videos

aPriori: Making Profitability & Sustainability a Reality for Manufacturers Worldwide
How Manufacturing Simulation Builds a Resilient Product Innovation Process

aPriori Technologies Integrations

aPriori Technologies Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo
Supported CountriesUSA, EMEA, APAC

Frequently Asked Questions

Teamcenter, SOLIDWORKS, and FACTON ECP Suite are common alternatives for aPriori Technologies.

Reviewers rate Usability highest, with a score of 8.8.

The most common users of aPriori Technologies are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(16)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
March 05, 2019

Fact-based costing

Narendran Dhanasekaran | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • Product Cost Management :
At my organization we started product cost management three and half years ago, and I am responsible for all "cost down" related activities in the organization. We are also responsible for cost avoidance and target costing for the new products. we are all familiar with the tagline "Cost Before It Matters" and had a few workshops where we found the tool is very agile and able to cost using facts and data, which is critically important for survival in this fast moving-world and for being the best in the industry.

aPriori is essential in our department for activities such as:

  • Potential for current parts- Value- Base Negotiation [ Direct Savings from Current Suppliers]
  • Providing target cost for new products [ New Product Development]
  • Speed, innovation, capacity
  • Generating the Technical Ideas during the Supplier workshop , Idea Generation Workshops
Business Problem:

  • To meet the Negotiation Target for the suppliers- [ Fact- Based Negotiation]
  • Supplier Rationalization (Supplier Bench-marking)
  • Cost Break-up for the Parts (Quote Missing)
  • Most Economic ways of Producing the Parts in machining could be analysed
  • Negotiation with suppliers
  • Keeping the target cost for the new products i.e. cost avoidance
  • RFQ benchmarking
  • Producing results quickly
  • Reduced the RFQ response time drastically
  • Sheet Metal-Process Group, Transfer Die is at the Best, which gives detailed operation setup for the Parts as well as shows the number of parts in the Sheet i.e nested Loop thereby reducing the Scrap as well (Scrap Management)
  • Forging-Steel: Very good for for medium and complex medium Hot Forging type parts. Machine overhead data is very detailed where facts are used for the negotiation i.e Electricity Rate, Power, Labour Rate, Maintenance rate, etc.
  • Surface Treatment / Other Secondary Process such as powder coating, wet coat, electro plating: These all work well. We can also use masking options the treatment, In the event of of any leak tests or X-Ray inspections, we can add the process which will then account the pre/post operation time for the treatments
  • 2-Model Machining: Machines and routing combinations are huge and can be used to determine the most economic way to produce these parts. We can also override to find the supplier methodology and cost. It gives very detailed information on the feed rate, speed rate, and power capacity.
  • Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerating (GD&T) can be added on the GCD's which will help detect the super finishing process, which is another advantage. In the current 2016 R2 SP, aPriori can detect it from the CAD Models
  • Design to Cost feature, provides the design engineers as well as cost engineers to understand the which feature take most cycle time and whether changing that feature reduces the complexity in machining thereby cycle time can be reduced
  • Investment Casting Model: We have a basic model where we have captured all the processes involved, but when logic is being missed in the same in process, we have to fine-tune it to make it as effective as other process groups.
  • Powder Metal technology: Similarly, we need more process setup options in order to provide more logic for manufacturing. It does have the basic manufacturing setup
  • Mass Volume Machining: Transfer machines, swiss lathes need to be incorporated for Mass and high-speed machining
  • Forging: Hollow Forging as well as forging of Non-Ferrous metal need to addressed as the Forging cost is too high
I am using aPriori 2016 R2 SP1 currently and it has undergone a lot of updates since I started using it, and I strongly recommend for designers, and strategic buyers to estimate the cost of parts and products.

It integrates with CAD systems and is particularly useful for estimating costs for the following industrial processes:

Forging:
  • Excellent for medium size and medium complex parts
  • Weight range: 2-50 kg
  • Material: Steel
  • Forging: Hot Forging
Die Casting:
  • Best with good routing and machine selection according to the die size and part size
  • Melting Model need very little logic
  • Separate components for Melting and Casting i.e. cost can be derived for each activity
Machining of Casting/Forging:
  • Process group is the best for machining
  • Many routings where we can play with activating the turning setup / setup axis activation
  • We can experiment with different Routing and aPriori tells us why it cannot be done and gives useful data for redesign
  • Gives all Machining parameters i.e machine name, feed rate, speed running, power capacity, etc.
Surface Treatment:
  • We can use the Parts in the barrel or in rack for heat treatment
  • Masking can be done for painting parts
Other Process:
  • Testing processes also available i.e. X-Ray test, leak test etc...
Above all it is really great tool, and big thanks aPriori for enhancing the current technology and digitalization landscape!
  • No Negative Impacts
  • At our Organization, ROI is calculated in terms of time, speed, and value
  • Time: We can reduce the project implementation by a few days
  • Speed: Delivering the cost in a few hours compared to weeks in the past
  • Capacity: Tool helps to make things run parallel i.e bulk costing increases capacity
  • Value: Negotiations have resulted in savings with respect to list price
I have not used other similar , but this feel that aPriori is highly effective for agility and improving the speed, along with innovative reporting.

  • aPriori shares reports in innovative way. It uses cost insight where we can analyze the report and share stake-holders much more quickly
  • It also improves the project implementation by achieving targets and making sure the cost of the product is not above target, all the way up to launch
  • Provides more Fact to have strong arugmentation with suppliers
  • Detail Cost Break-up and various report such as Manufacturing Tool Summary, Assembly cost report can be generated
  • Add-on features help to more strong usage of tool in daily work culture to main the Cost culture in my Organisation
  • DTC-Design to Cost feature is new add on in 2017 version where we can see the features which take most cylce time and this make the Desgin Engineer to alter and see the Cycle time reduction thereby Cost
  • User-Friendnly
  • Cost Insight Reporting-Awaited Interative Reporting to our need
aPriori Product Cost Management
21
We all Represent the Product Cost Management Team, and support to other various functions such as;
  • Procurement- Should Cost Analysis
  • Design Engineers- Design to Cost
  • NPD- Target Costing for New Product
1
  • Able to write the Logic with aSQL
  • Possess the general Manufacturing knowledge
  • Understand the Different Cost Components for the various Process
  • Need to have general Machining Knowledge
  • Able to know the feed/speed to be given for the particular operation for Better Refinement of Cost
  • Should able to use the Process Set-up Options for the Process Group
  • Use of Secondary Process need to understand from the Drawing Requirement
  • Achieved Annual Savings of over 1.5m USD with use of Should Cost Analysis
  • Target Costing Provided to decide the New Project Development as the Concept Target Cost was far high than expected estimated cost, Which saved the Huge resources and Time for the Organization
  • Reporting- Cost Insight helps to know the potential % with current Prices
  • Integrating the ERP System with aPriori
  • PLM with aPRiori to directly access the models and run the costing
  • ONE POINT CONTACT to evaluate the Current Product and to Decide the COST for New Product
  • Helps various functions to understand the COST involved in the function via aPriori PCM
  • Also integerating the CFD Analysis Software i.e.modeFRONTIER with apriori is future development targeted
  • Not to Lose the Position of Product Cost Management Importance
  • Make Costing Simple and Ease
  • Traceablitlity of Previous Costed
  • Helps Design Engineers to actually look for the Which Feature contributes for the Most Cycle Time and help Design Engineers to re-design the CAD Model and look for the changes in the Cycle Time and the Machining parameters
  • Interactive Cost Insight
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Positive Sales Experience with the Vendor
  • Analyst Reports
  • One Platform to cost the maximum spend of Organization
  • Maturity in Most of the Process Group especially in Sheet Metal, Machining, Casting, Plastic, Forging,etc...
  • Process Set-up Options which able to alter the required field for the various operations and get the actual set-up in which supplier manufactures the part i.e. Feed/Speed of Machines
  • Overall "COST" before it "MATTERS"- Tag line of aPriori
  • Look for One Platform for all Process Group
  • Look for the Costing of Powder Metal, Fabrication as separate Process Group
  • Ease editing of Process Set-up Options in case of separate Tab
  • Able to easy Link to ERP systems and PLM
  • Web-Based Solutions
  • User-Friendly with Minimum input the Costing is done for the Process Group
  • Suggestions -How the Part would cost in various Locations?
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was minimal
Change Management in the aPriori product cost Management was minimal or negligible as one need to just understand the various process group and the to know how to choose material in the aPriori and add in the volume and location then click on "Cost" button, the user see the cost in few seconds.
So no major bottleneck were experienced during the Change Management .
  • Need to have compliance with internal IT security, which was time consuming for the network security check
aPriori team helped a lot for the implementation, as they were on remote and helping for the file run and implementing the same on remote. aPriori team extrended full support for the implementation resolving the bottleneck and bugs if any during installing the software's also, they provide professional services in order to resolve some technical issue
  • Easy Tracking of Status -Request
  • Automatic Follow-up mail in case we forget about our request
  • Response within 24 hours for our request
  • We will be assisted with single point contact or account holder
  • Quick response and follow-up for the request
  • In case the request are not able to complete on specified time line, they will ask for the request in time stretch
  • Easy to contact or have a Skype call for the request discussion with technical panel
Yes
  • We have customized few of our Data base where we need to pull in the Logistics & Packaging Cost in our Cost Model
  • We had missed the Logic in between and when we reported to Support Service
  • Within 24 hrs we received , inputs for the resolution i.e. Cost Model Tool set we need to upload to our request where solution provider will work on to the tool set and confirm the bug and corrected for the Change and now it works fine
  • When we have enhanced process of "Melting" we had a support on-site where they had come to our Organization and worked with Our cost modeller and made this Process enhanced
  • Similar such Process which we have enhanced where we had direct support from aPriori Support Team-"Transfer Press"
  • Support Team also helped for regional data update other than available regions provided by aPriori
  • Process Setup Options for customizing the routing operations
  • Routing Operations to choose the Machining method according to the Supplier routing
  • Override function is most useful one to override the actual specification
  • More Process setup options need to be used in Secondary process for better routing
Yes
aPriori Product Cost Management provide Enterprise Platform which is web based solution wherein one an look at the cost on the move, which is really most advancement in the solutions, it is pretty new and under fast development. This platform help user to share the cost components of various drivers any where as well as to feel the cost instantly
Rating is due to below exciting factors which one can feel when we use aPriori;
  • Cost engineer need to know "What the part "Should" cost?" instantly.
  • One need to understand the cost in various Process group such as casting, forging, machining, additive manufacturing,etc...
  • One need to have comparison of various process group in single window
  • Ease of finding cost for various location for various currency in single platform
February 25, 2019

Never turning back!

Tony Molica | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Presently it is being used within our Cost Modeling organization. The data and results are interpreted and fed into our engineering and procurement organizations. It addresses the desire to design and procure to specific profit points or better. With this tool, we are better able to hit our profit targets for projects.
  • Ability to model costs in multiple countries. In a short amount of time, we are able to make quick decisions as to a sourcing location, and provide good feedback to our purchasing organization, as well as our designers in relation to trouble areas (or cost driving features).
  • Ability to self develop processes whereby customizing to our own industry. There are many processes that are specific to my business, and in order to better understand the costs for them, we need to develop our own modeling capability. aPriori allows for this to take place seamlessly within their product by writing it into their code.
  • One of the best support organizations I've ever dealt with. I have used them extensively, with great success nearly every time.
  • Branch into more process groups for cost modeling capability.
  • Make system updates easier to integrate. It would be nice to have an update method similar to a Windows update.
  • Revise the material libraries to be globally centric instead of regional centric. This is for an update simplification perspective of data.
Great for running through multiple scenarios of parts for cost opportunities. Meaning, I have a part that I want to understand the cost differences between different grades of material, as well as different thicknesses. I'd also like to understand it's cost differences if it were a metal vs a plastic part. Lastly, for all of these differences, I'd also like to find the lowest cost country to source the part in. All of this is capable by generating multiple scenarios, and changing a few variables within each scenario.
  • The main purpose is to understand and manage costs as early as possible in a project cycle. The software has done this exceptionally well.
  • DFMA
We needed much more customization for our business needs, and this software provided the greatest potential for future expansion. The ease of use with the application was also a driving factor. We have groups located across the globe, speaking many different native languages. The software not only provided for good learning support built in, they also have offices across the world, with trainers in multiple regions that allowed us to get up to speed quite quickly.
125
We have numerous individuals involved across our organization that utilize this product. They range from the following departments: Cost Research, Cost Modeling, Target Cost Management, Procurement, & Engineering. We have been able to make significant progress in reducing costs to existing products, as well as bring new products to market with much greater profit margins.
3
Our support team exists of coders, and system admins. They need to understand the complete underworkings of the system, and how each piece joins to one another. They must be able to work on systems across the globe as well.
  • Cost reduction
  • New product introduction with target costs
  • Flexibility to create new processes
  • Multi department collaborations on assessing anticipated product cost
  • Take the "should cost" mentality to a "could cost"
Because it's pretty likely that we're in this for the long run.
Yes
Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA. They would not work with us to develop new processes we wanted to identify costs for. They seem to feel their product was great as it was designed. Guess they will end up the the way Motorola did, and fail on their arrogance. Too bad!
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
We really needed something that we could customize. The fact that some of the other suppliers we reviewed would not allow this, and that aPriori would, was key in our decision. We also felt that the support team brought in on the sales pitch would be receptive to working with us.
Our process was quite rigorous. There is little likelihood that we would change any part of our selection process or criteria.
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was minimal
Change management was not a factor, as my company has it's own independent department responsible for target cost modeling and management. We will eventually be implementing into our engineering organization, and then change management will become more of a factor, but presently it is not an issue or consideration for us.
  • Validating processes against our supply base
  • Learning the coding aspects
  • Developing our specific processes that were not included with the OOTB product
The company was great to work with for implementation, and the on site training and support of our integration was very helpful in coming up to speed on usability, as well as integrating the processes into our specific supply base. There were many times when we had on site resources at our disposal to overcome issues as well.
No
Service is included with our package.
Overall, I'm generally satisfied with the response and results that I get from aPriori support. They are intuitive, and try to understand what it is I'm trying to do, or how the problem is affecting me or my organization. They also are very available across the globe, as my team is located in multiple regions.
Yes
For the most part, my issues are resolved to my satisfaction. However, there are times where my issues can be a bit complicated, and the duration to complete are more lengthy, or the resolution has to go into a service pack or major release, forcing me to wait for the solution.
aPriori is always very exceptional during times of our major release updates. Their support level is great, and they make sure they are available when we need them, even when it has been outside of their normal working hours. I've even had weekend resolutions, and one year over the Christmas holiday they were there to support me.
  • GCD costing with CAD models
  • Synchronization applications for global teams
  • Sheet metal stamping for progressive stamped parts
  • Database manipulations
  • Cost Insight reporting
Yes, but I don't use it
I'm fairly happy with the product. My company appreciates the ability to customize the software, as well as manage our own data points for costs, machines, and materials. The coding aspect is not too difficult as well, though there are some issues with the availability of some information that could be improved.
Ricardo W.N. Denigres Fº MSc.PhD. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We use aPriori to have the best parts with a fair price with the right process/supplier. It is great software for NPI and renegotiation tasks. We use the reports to get fair prices and to develop a high-efficiency process at our supplier base.
  • Cost reduction
  • Tooling costs
  • Parts cost
  • Source decision
  • NPI - quotation
NPI is a must have since it is an area where the reports are helpful since we do not have that process in place. For current parts it is easier to decide on suppliers because we just moved to a similar process for suppliers, but it is also helpful to quantify the investments and the best process route.
  • Right part with the right supplier
  • Efficient design
It was not my decision to have aPriori in our company, but I do agree with this decision because the last software used was less precise than aPriori in its reports.
20
mostly enginners and buyers
1
large experience with the application.
  • negotiation
  • NPI part development
  • source decision
  • simultaneous enginnering
  • adding sheet plastic license , since we do not work with that nowadays
it is a very helpful tool to make business with. it leads to better part develompment , consistent collaboration with our supply base and better financial results .
Yes
costmator , it was used by a third part contractor , nowadays we do our own cost modeling in more effective way.
  • Product Usability
  • Analyst Reports
  • Third-party Reviews
the interface is very friendly and easy to get customized reports
by finding a more suitable application with a better cost
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was minimal
  • price of equipment . it could run with a standard equipment and other 3d interfaces than CREO
it was a smooth implantation . . . no major issues
I did not have any concerns in get my issues resolved in the last 4 years
I do like the discussion letter board were we discuss successful cases , and usage tips . I think that helps a lot in the application usage
  • frindly user interface
  • visual reports
  • it could be faster to launch , and let the user change the 3d model simultaneously to the cost modeling .
  • it could be able to open a second 3d model to cost modeling
No
very friendly usage
Marc-André Patry | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
aPriori is mostly used by two differents engineering development teams to know in real time the cost of a part/assembly/product. We have a costing simulation department who uses aPriori to give this feedback cost to the development team.

So, it helps in many ways:

  • Be quicker and more confident when we have a design decision to make for in-house development project
  • Give a fast quote to our customer in a build to print product
  • Remove the number of RFQ to our suppliers
We are also starting to use aPriori to set our manufacturing rate
  • Give visibility to cost really quickly
  • Be able to benchmark other regions of the world or other process/equipment that can be used to do the same part
  • Easily visualize the Geometric Cost Drivers that are more important
  • GIve some hints on where to work to get the cost down
  • Be more easy to customize without that much IT knowledge
  • Give more hints on how to reduce cost
  • Be able to build customize report
[It's] very powerful and useful. It became a must-have/"cannot live without it anymore" [tool[ very quickly throughout all the company. We were at ease waiting 1 or 2 weeks to get a price/quote and now, when people wait more than a day, it's too long for them. So far, we only use 20% of the software and cannot wait to see what we will do with it in the future. It could more be more customizable.
  • It helps decrease our time to market. So more projects are done than before.
  • Being quick to give a quote to a customer is a business advantage. Customers know they can rely on Soucy to get a quick quote. First in gets the business.
  • No time spent on concepts that are too expensive anyway!
aPriori is covering a lot of different processes instead of being an expert in only one. It can read geometric [information] directly from the CAD file so there's no need for manual entry or the risk of a mistake that comes with that. It provides data in a lot of different regions around the world this keeping the data up to date.
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Reputation
It cover so much process and that was exactly what we need. Beeing a company that do multiple process, it was really imporant. Other softwares were good in only one process (ex: injection molding)
Lot of our customer was already using it
It will stay the same since we are really satisfy !
No
No need for now
Nothing really bad to say. They are with me as soon as i need it !
Yes
No, but I can understand since it was somthing very specific to me
Oh Yeah, i had a crash after an installation of a newer version. A person form aPriori support give me 1 hour of is time to resolve it even if the problem was becasue of us
Heath Wall | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
aPriori's ability to be calibrated and customized to our specific uses allows us to fill in the gaps. We especially like and use the Cost Model Workbench for the ability to create User Guided models which are not available as well as models we can use when 3D files are not available. One business area we have been able to work on is identifying gaps where we could not model costs in the past. Now we can build cost models to do those. This provides extra resources in providing target costs and is useful in supplier discussions.
  • The ability to create User Guided models which are not available as well as models we can use when 3D files are not available.
  • aPriori gives a lot of data as outputs. Would like to see a cleaner interface and one where we can get to the fields I want to see easier.
  • Customizing reports more simply would be a benefit as well.
I am continually impressed with all the features aPriori allows and has. The more you know...the more you can do. This is especially true within Cost Model Workbench and User Guided cost models. We are creating more and more capability by leveraging what we know along with aPriori's ability to let us code our own logic.
  • It has allowed us to turn around requests in record time
  • It has allowed us real time collaboration and trade off analysis
  • It has allowed us to support engineering and BOM development earlier in design phase
  • DFMA
We needed a fully customizable tool that was based on a database platform. Others we used did not allow this for us.
No
They do a great job or responding quickly and for the most part issues are resolved in a timely manner or atleast are categorized and prioritized and we are given a timeline for resolution.
Yes
During our greatest amount of User Guided cost development, Support provided code and logic to help us grow our capability.
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