Storage and retrieval of process capability and guidance information, and computer media therefor

This invention relates generally to product design, production and life management activities and, more particularly, to a comprehensive tool for supporting such activities to enable effective and efficient manufacture of products designed therewith. In a system and method for saving and retrieving process capability and guidance information related to supporting product design and manufacturing activities, specific capability and guidance information related to sets of standardized product attributes are collected and stored as a plurality of records in a database. A user may then access the database through a suitable computer program interface and design a product using any combination of standardized attributes. Upon each attribute selection, the system queries the database and retrieves the process capability and guidance information associated with the received set of attributes. This information is then displayed to the user to assist in product design and manufacturing activities. Users may also group information retrieved relating to various sets of attributes and generate composite checklists including ranked listings of relevant guidance information. Users are thus enabled to view and reference a previously unavailable quantity of information specifically related to the product being designed or manufactured.