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| Ysolina Delgado-Arvelo
Improving the Data Collection Process in the Development of Cost Models (previously titled Assembly Cost Modelling using Visual Simulation)
Research Project Outline
This research looks into the data sources and data collection techniques and tools used by cost engineers and estimators when developing cost models and estimates, and how the appropriate selection of these elements can contribute to make cost model generation faster, easier and more structured. To this end, the investigation examines the Cost Model Development process in terms of the relationship between model purpose and model characteristics, to gain an understanding of the factors that need considering when developing cost models/estimates and on the variety of data sources and data collection tools used by the practitioners along the model generation process.
It is then the intention of this investigation to propose a cost model development framework and to examine its effectiveness in assisting cost engineers in defining the features and activities of the process or the attributes of the product for which a cost model is required, and also in identifying the cost model characteristics. With these two set of information, it is expected that the cost engineer will then be able to identify potential data sources and to select from a range of the data collection tools the most appropriate techniques for data gathering for the job on hands, in a more time efficient, visible and organised way. The final benefits of this work include bringing visibility, time efficiency and structure to the process of developing cost models.
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