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Cost Estimating and Estimating
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Models
Engineering Costs and Cost Estimating
Cost Estimating and Estimating Models
Go to questions covering topic below
Engineering economic analysis involves present and future
economic factors; thus, it is critical to obtain reliable estimates
of future costs, benefits and other economic parameters.
Several methods to do so are discussed here.
Estimates can be rough estimates, semi detailed estimates, or
detailed estimates, depending on the needs for the estimates.
A characteristic of cost estimates is that errors in estimating are
typically nonsymmetric because costs are more likely to be
underestimated than overestimated.
Difficulties in developing cost estimates arise from such
conditions as one-of-a-kind estimates, resource availability, and
estimator expertise. Generally the quality of a cost estimate
increases as the resources allocated to developing the estimate
increase. The benefits expected from improving a cost estimate
should outweigh the cost of devoting additional resources to the
estimate improvement.
Several models are available for developing cost (or benefit)
estimates.
The per-unit model is a simple but useful model in which a
cost estimate is made for a single unit, then the total cost
estimate results from multiplying the estimated cost per unit
times the number of units.
The segmenting model partitions the total estimation task
into segments. Each segment is estimated, then the segment
estimates are combined for the total cost estimate.
Cost indexes can be used to account for historical changes in
costs. The widely reported Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an
example. Cost index data are available from a variety of
sources. Suppose A is a time point in the past and B is the
current time. Let IVA denote the index value at time A and IVB
denote the current index value for the cost estimate of interest.
To estimate the current cost based on the cost at time A, use
the equation:
Cost at time B = (Cost at time A) (IVB / IVA).
The power-sizing model accounts explicitly for economies of
scale. For example, the cost of constructing a six-story building
will typically be less than double the construction cost of a
comparable three-story building. To estimate the cost of B
based on the cost of comparable item A, use the equation
x
Cost of B = (Cost of A) [ ("Size" of B) / ("Size" of A) ]
where x is the appropriate power-sizing exponent, available
from a variety of sources. An economy of scale is indicated by
an exponent less than 1.0 An exponent of 1.0 indicates no
economy of scale, and an exponent greater than 1.0 indicates a
diseconomy of scale.
"Size" is used here in a general sense to indicate physical size,
capacity, or some other appropriate comparison unit.
Learning curve cost estimating is based on the assumption
that as a particular task is repeated, the operator systematically
becomes quicker at performing the task. In particular, the
model is based on the assumption that the time required to
complete the task for production unit 2x is a fixed percentage of
the time required for production unit x for all positive, integer x.
The learning curve slope indicates "how fast" learning occurs.
For example, a learning curve rate of 70% represents much
faster learning than a rate of 90%. If an operator exhibits
learning on a certain task at a rate of 70%, the time required to
complete production unit 50, for example, is only 70% of the
time required to complete unit 25.

Let b = learning curve exponent

= log (learning curve rate in decimal form) / log 2.0

Then TN = time estimate for unit N (N = 1, 2, ...)

= (T1) (N)b

where T1 is the time required for unit 1.

As an example: A learning curve rate is 70%, the operator’s

t
time for the first unit is 65 seconds. What is the operator’s time
th
for the 50 unit?

b = log (0.70) / log 2.0 = -0.5145

T100 = T1 * (50) ^ b = 65 * (50) ^ -0.5145 = 8.68 min

Engineering Costs and Cost Estimating

Cost Estimating and Estimating Models

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

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Question 1.

The cost to provide workplace safety training to a new

employee is estimated at $600 for a particular manufacturer.
Use the per-unit cost estimating model to estimate the annual
workplace safety training cost if an estimated 30 new
employees are hired annually.

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $600

B $1,800

C $6,000

D $18,000

Review topic

Question 2.

Given the data below, use the segmenting model to estimate a

manufacturer's total annual cost.

Estimated annual production volume = 400,000 units

Estimated direct labor cost per unit = $3.75

Estimated indirect labor cost per unit = $0.92

Estimated raw material and purchased part cost per unit =

$32.50

All other costs are independent of production volume and are

estimated at $800,000 per year.

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $2,668,000

B $15,668,000

C $14,868,000

D $15,300,000

Review topic

Question 3.

Given the data below, use the segmenting model to estimate a

manufacturer's average cost per unit produced. Note that this
is different from the previous question.

Estimated annual production volume = 400,000 units

Estimated direct labor cost per unit = $3.75

Estimated indirect labor cost per unit = $0.92

Estimated raw material and purchased part cost per unit =

$32.50

All other costs are independent of production volume and are

estimated at $800,000 per year.

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $37.17

B $34.50

C $39.17

D $6.67

Review topic

Question 4.

Use the cost index method to estimate the current construction

cost for a building equivalent to one constructed in 1980 at a
cost of $2.7 million. According to the Engineering News-Record,
the 1980 average Building Cost Index was 1941. Suppose that
the current year Building Cost Index has been estimated at
3620.

(Source:
http://enr.construction.com/features/conEco/costIndexes/bldIndexHist.asp)

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $5.400 million

B $5.036 million

C $5.170 million

D $3.620 million

Review topic

Question 5.

Use the power-sizing model to estimate the cost of a piece of

equipment that has 75% more capacity than a similar piece of
equipment that cost $1,000. The appropriate power sizing
exponent for this type of equipment is 0.725.
Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or
click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $1,750

B $725

C $750

D $1,500

Review topic

Question 6.

Use a combined cost index and the power-sizing cost estimating

model to estimate the current cost of a piece of equipment that
has 50% more capacity than a similar piece of equipment that
cost $30,000 five years ago. The appropriate power-sizing
exponent for this type of equipment is 0.8, and the ratio of the
cost indexes (current to 5 years ago) is 1.24. (Note that this is
more complex than the previous questions.)

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A $29,760

B $51,454

C $55,800

D $44,640

Review topic

Question 7.

At a learning curve rate of 80%, estimate the time in minutes

required to assemble production unit number 100 given that the
first production unit required 74.8 minutes to assemble.

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A 17.0

B 47.9

C 59.8

D 74.8

Review topic

Question 8.

At a learning curve rate of 80%, estimate the time in minutes

required to assemble production unit number 100 given that
unit number 50 required 20.0 minutes to assemble.

Choose an answer by clicking on one of the letters below, or

click on "Review topic" if needed.

A 10.0

B 11.5

C 16.0

D 20.0

Review topic

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