How to accurately estimate, in advance, the cost of producing products or services by means of the design-to-cost method, which systematically constrains design goals according to available funds. This book shows how to use value engineering, cost estimating, and cost control to devise, and adhere to, realistic cost goals. Touches on techniques from management methods to specific engineering approaches, and provides actual case studies of projects and services that have now become affordable through the application of the design-to-cost method.

This is the first English edition of an established work on cost-driven product design and development. It offers tried and tested methods for understanding, influencing and reducing product costs. The methodology and organization of cost management, as well as the effects on each type of cost are described. Using this knowledge the product developer can assume responsibility for costs. There are numerous examples and detailed derivation of results.

Find Practical Solutions to Civil Engineering Design and Cost Management Problems A guide to successfully designing, estimating, and scheduling a civil engineering project, Integrated Design and Cost Management for Civil Engineers shows how practicing professionals can design fit-for-use solutions within established time frames and reliable budgets. This text combines technical compliance with practical solutions in relation to cost planning, estimating, time, and cost control. It incorporates solutions that are technically sound as well as cost effective and time efficient. It focuses on the integration of design and construction based on solid engineering foundations contained within a code of ethics, and navigates engineers through the complete process of project design, pricing, and tendering. Well illustrated The book uses cases studies to illustrate principles and processes. Although they center on Australasia and Southeast Asia, the principles are internationally relevant. The material details procedures that emphasize the correct quantification and planning of works, resulting in reliable cost and time predictions. It also works toward minimizing the risk of losing business through cost blowouts or losing profits through underestimation. This Text Details the Quest for Practical Solutions That: Are cost effective Can be completed within a reasonable timeline Conform to relevant quality controls Are framed within appropriate contract documents Satisfy ethical professional procedures, and Address the client’s brief through a structured approach to integrated design and cost management Designed to help civil engineers develop and apply a multitude of skill bases, Integrated Design and Cost Management for Civil Engineers can aid them in maintaining relevancy in appropriate design justifications, guide work tasks, control costs, and structure project timelines. The book is an ideal link between a civil engineering course and practice.

Since the success of products significantly depends on the quality of product performance, inadequate management of the product design process can lead to improper performance of products that can result in significant long-term business losses. Design for Profitability: Guidelines to Cost Effectively Manage the Development Process of Complex Products presents a design guideline for complex product design and development that enables you to cost-effectively improve the technical performance of your products and consequently improve your competitiveness in the marketplace as well as improve profitability. The book helps you improve the competitiveness of your organization in the market and eventually improve profitability. It presents a mobile robots design guideline based on an empirical study of the mobile robots design process. This is an unprecedented guideline based on the empirical investigation of the internal aspects of the design process of complex products for cost-effectively enhancing the competitiveness in the market. The book also presents a hybrid lean-agile design paradigm for mobile robots. In addition, it points out key approaches and risks to manage the product development process efficiently. In designing complex products and integrated systems, industrial designers face a dilemma of cost-effectively striking a balance between product development time and product performance attributes. This book shows how and when value is added in product design and development through identifying statistically the most and least correlated design activities and strategies to product performance attributes. Introducing a new paradigm in the field of engineering design, the book gives you key approaches to efficiently manage the product development process.

In the area of computer-integrated manufacturing, concurrent engineering is recognized as the manufacturing philosophy for the next decade.

Providing valuable insight into the latest practice and design philosophies, this collection of readings and cases analyzes the defects that exist with traditional cost management systems, and shows how to design systems that will benefit a wide range of organizations. Opens with a thorough introduction to cost systems - with discussions on their use, product and process costing, operational control, financial reporting, and strategic relevance - and explores target costing, and ABC and product design and development. Considers the foundations of activity-based costing, including its necessity for companies, cost hierarchy, and activity attributes, and dedicates entire sections to the use of cost systems for managing customer and supplier relationships, and for designing and developing new products. Second Edition features include many new cases and a critical study of service industry and activity-based budgeting. For management consultants, CFO's, and controllers.