Integrating Cost Engineering Across the Product Lifecycle Optimizes Resource Allocation
A holistic approach to cost engineering, encompassing design, manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life, is crucial for effective resource management and affordability.
International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing · 2011
Key Findings
- 01Cost engineering encompasses design, manufacturing, operating, and life cycle costs.
- 02Risk and uncertainty management are critical components of cost engineering.
- 03Affordability engineering is a key future research area.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must adopt a lifecycle perspective for cost management, integrating cost engineering principles from concept to disposal to achieve optimal resource utilization and affordability.
How to apply
When beginning a new design project, map out all potential cost phases and identify key cost drivers at each stage. Use this map to inform design decisions and resource allocation.
Project actions
- 01When planning your design project, create a simple cost breakdown for different stages (materials, manufacturing, usage, disposal).
- 02Research common cost estimation techniques relevant to your chosen materials and manufacturing processes.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a broad overview of cost engineering research areas.
- +Identifies gaps and future research directions.
Limitations
Estimating future operating and disposal costs can be challenging and may involve significant assumptions.
Reliability & validity
The findings are based on a synthesis of expert opinion and literature review, providing a broad but potentially subjective overview. Further empirical studies would be needed to validate specific cost engineering models.
Think critically
How might the increasing complexity of products and the rise of the circular economy further complicate lifecycle cost engineering?
Design Principles
"Lifecycle Costing: Evaluate and manage costs across all phases of a product's existence."
Understanding and managing costs throughout a product's entire lifecycle allows design teams to make informed decisions that minimize waste, optimize resource utilization, and ensure economic viability. This perspective is essential for developing sustainable and competitive products.
What This Means for Your Design
Think about how much something will cost to make, use, and get rid of, not just the price tag when you buy it. This helps make better, cheaper, and more sustainable products.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing the importance of considering the full lifecycle costs of your design solution, particularly in sections related to justification of design choices or evaluation of alternatives.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2011). Cost Engineering for manufacturing: Current and future research. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. https://doi.org/10.1080/0951192x.2010.542183 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/2cd43d21-3035-41dd-b8ce-df1cab92b94f/integrating-cost-engineering-across-the-product-lifecycle-optimizes-resource-allocation
Paragraph starter
Cost engineering principles, as highlighted by Xu et al. (2011), emphasize the critical need to consider costs across the entire product lifecycle, from initial design through manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life. This holistic approach ensures that design decisions are not only functional and innovative but also economically viable and resource-efficient, leading to more sustainable and competitive outcomes.
Source
International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Cost Engineering for manufacturing: Current and future research
journal · 2011
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about integrating cost engineering across the product lifecycle optimizes resource allocation?
- Designers must adopt a lifecycle perspective for cost management, integrating cost engineering principles from concept to disposal to achieve optimal resource utilization and affordability. Evidence: International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (2011).
- Why does "Integrating Cost Engineering Across the Product Lifecycle Optimizes Resource Allocation" matter for design?
- Understanding and managing costs throughout a product's entire lifecycle allows design teams to make informed decisions that minimize waste, optimize resource utilization, and ensure economic viability. This perspective is essential for developing sustainable and competitive products.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must adopt a lifecycle perspective for cost management, integrating cost engineering principles from concept to disposal to achieve optimal resource utilization and affordability.
- What were the main findings?
- Cost engineering encompasses design, manufacturing, operating, and life cycle costs.. Risk and uncertainty management are critical components of cost engineering.. Affordability engineering is a key future research area.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Expert Forum Synthesis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2011 journal from International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When beginning a new design project, map out all potential cost phases and identify key cost drivers at each stage. Use this map to inform design decisions and resource allocation.
- What are the limitations?
- The research is based on findings from 2008 and may not fully reflect the most current advancements in cost engineering or digital tools.
- Is there evidence that cost engineering affects design outcomes?
- Effective cost engineering requires considering all stages of a product's life, from initial design through to operation and disposal, while also managing potential risks and uncertainties to ensure affordability. Understanding and managing costs throughout a product's entire lifecycle allows design teams to make infor Source: International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (2011).
- Where does this integrating cost research apply?
- Manufacturing and Product Development It sits within resource management research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
cost engineering design research · evidence on cost engineering · does cost engineering improve design outcomes · integrating cost studies for designers · cost engineering and integrating cost findings · resource management research evidence