Systems Cost Engineering

Dale Shermon is Principal Consultant and Opportunities Manager for the Through Life Cost Management team in HVR Practice, QinetiQ. Dale has presented courses in hardware estimating, software estimating, life cycle cost, Cost Estimating Relationships, Information Technology, risk analysis and supplier assessment in the UK, Sweden, Italy, USA, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and Germany. He has conducted consulting assignments in UK, Italy, France, Australia and the Netherlands. He was responsible for the development of the "PRICE HL Questionnaire" within the PRICE Estimating Suite and the TruePlanning for Concepts parametric cost model. Dale was previously working as a Senior Executive Consultant for PRICE Systems and a Cost Forecaster within Pricing and Forecasting Group (PFG) part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). He headed a cell studying submarine platform Whole Life Cycle (WLC) Costs that supported MOD project approvals. Dale has held estimating positions in various defence and aerospace companies including; Matra Marconi Space, British Aerospace (Space Systems) Ltd, British Aerospace (Dynamics) Ltd. and Rolls-Royce Ltd. Military Engine Group. During his period in the MOD he performed High Level Studies covering all of the armed services. In 2009 he was given the Frank Freiman Award for his work on parametrics by the International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA).

• Contents: Introduction; How to appreciate parametrics; How to estimate using parametrics; How to prepare bids faster with fewer resources; How to prepare a focused business plan; How to validate quotations from suppliers; How to manage your program effectively; How to achieve accuracy in cost engineering; How to accomplish quality assurance; How to estimate through life; How to estimate technology maturity; How to assess software; How to analyse risk and uncertainty; How to influence project strategy; How to consider technology insertion; How to develop cost effective alternatives; How to tackle the system of systems challenge; How to create home-grown parametric models; How to successfully construct life-cycle costing; How to accomplish knowledge retention; How to present the results; How to adopt parametrics; The history of parametrics; Index.

'Reading this book should inspire executives to ask a variety of questions from their estimating departments and help providers of cost and schedule estimates to answer a broader range of questions. This book should motivate executives to ask: "Why are we not estimating more efficiently by applying these parametric estimating solutions?" Like a car manual tells you where the horn is located, a parametric cost model manual tells you which buttons to press to calculate an estimate. This book is like the atlas to beautiful roads, coasts and scenic drives for your car...' Project Control Professional