Platform · Manufacturing cost

COGS: manufacturing cost, predicted in seconds.

An AI model of your production costs. Change the formulation, the machine or the volume and see the unit cost instantly. Built and proven in pharma, the principle works for any manufacturer with a bill of materials and a routing.

COGS application: predicted unit cost, cost breakdown and what-if scenarios
Secondsfor a verified cost calculation, instead of 3–12 months
<0.1%deviation from official calculations on standard product changes
€10–100Midentified savings potential in a global rollout at a European generics manufacturer
COGS: the big pictureDNAi COGS is an AI model of the whole manufacturing process, shown here for a pharma manufacturer: any change in recipe or formulation, process, volume, packaging, plant or technology flows through to cost, in seconds with less than 0.1% error. Five uses: modify current production, cost of new products, optimize packaging, choose the right plant, ROI of new technology.Any changeflows through to cost Recipe & formulation Process Volume Packaging Plant TechnologyDNAi COGSAI cost model of the whole processlivePredicted unit cost€0.375Scenario: modify current productionMaterialsProcessLabourPackagingOverheadUnit costCost in seconds · <0.1% deviationExample · a pharma manufacturer01Modify current productionRe-optimize formulation & process.02Cost of new productsAccurate cost estimate for a new drug.03Optimize packagingRearrange packaging to raise profit.04Choose the right plantPick the most profitable plant.05ROI of new technologyReturn on new manufacturing tech.
The big picture: one AI cost model of the whole manufacturing process, five business uses — shown for a pharma manufacturer.
Why it matters

For generics, cost of goods is 50–65% of net sales.

Prices only fall after launch. Knowing the cost of every formulation and process change precisely decides the viable price and the portfolio.

Questions COGS answers in seconds

For production, controlling and finance alike.

  • What does a change in formulation do to unit cost?
  • How does a faster machine or a new line change the cost?
  • What is the unit-cost impact of scaling production up?
  • Investments: does a new machine on this line pay off — or is the money better spent on packaging?
  • Line allocation: which products pay off best on which line?
  • Plant allocation: what should we make where?
  • New products: what will it cost to make — and where is it cheapest to produce?
How it works

How COGS produces a verified number.

How COGS produces a verified numberThree steps: the model captures the whole process digitally; the algorithm combines expert knowledge with AI — regression, pattern matching and extrapolation on the client’s own calculation logic; scenarios give answers in seconds. Results: weeks to seconds, less than 0.1% error, and errors found in the existing calculation.01 · MODELThe whole process, digitallyManufacturing, packaging, workshop costsand labour — cost visible at everystep, and editable.02 · ALGORITHMExpert knowledge plus AIRegression, pattern matching andextrapolation on top of the client’sown calculation logic.03 · SCENARIOSAnswers in secondsA new product, a faster machine,a higher volume — each pricedimmediately.Weeks → secondsAnyone gets a result, without request overload.<0.1% errorVerified against controlling calculations.Errors foundInconsistencies in the old calculation fixed.
Model, algorithm and scenarios — every result checked against controlling calculations.
How we deliver

From analysis to production in 5–8 months.

1 month

Analysis

Your COGS calculation, use cases and a rough accuracy estimate.

1–2 months

Proof of concept

The first model on your data, with measured accuracy.

1–2 months

MVP

The model in the platform; users estimate for real.

3 months

Production

Full deployment, tested with key users.

Finalist and podium, Digital Future Awards 2026.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is COGS by DNAi?

COGS is an AI platform that models the cost of the whole manufacturing process. It predicts the manufacturing cost of a product in seconds after any change in formulation, process, volume, packaging, plant or technology.

Is COGS only for pharma?

No. We built and proved it with a pharmaceutical manufacturer, but the principle is generic: any manufacturer with a bill of materials, a routing and a cost calculation can have its own cost model — food, chemicals, cosmetics, engineering and more.

How accurate is it?

Less than 0.1% deviation from official controlling calculations on standard product changes, at a European generics manufacturer.

How long does implementation take?

From analysis to production in 5–8 months: analysis (1 month), proof of concept (1–2 months), MVP (1–2 months) and production (3 months).

Who uses COGS?

Production and R&D to see the cost of every formulation and process change; controlling and finance to decide investments — a new machine, a new line or packaging — and to allocate products to lines and plants; product teams to know the manufacturing cost of a new product and where to make it.

What do we need to start?

One product with its bill of materials and routing, and your current cost calculation.

Bring one product with its BOM and routing. We’ll show you what COGS can do with it.

Start with one product