P-BEAT: Initial Version of a Process-Based Economic Analysis Tool Released

The NASA Glenn Research Center is developing the Process-Based Economic Analysis Tool (P-BEAT): an engineering-focused economic analysis code for engineering tradeoff studies and technology investment decision analyses for all phases of a product life cycle. Version 1.0 of the code, released in 2006 and currently available upon request, combines decision analysis and economic analysis capabilities in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet-based format. Included with the deterministic economic analysis tool is an Excel add-in simulation module (CpSimulation) that can be used for uncertainty and statistics analyses.

P–BEAT multipaned user interface.

The initial release version of P-BEAT estimates development and production costs using an innovative process rollup-based methodology to calculate product complexity and its impact on cost. It offers multiuser capabilities, network-based configuration control, and data security features. It provides decision-support tools that can be used to generate utility curves that quantify desirability to stakeholders and a pair-wise method to determine system attribute priorities. P-BEAT includes an extensive database of over 14,000 materials and hundreds of manufacturing processes plus context-sensitive help and graphic tools for sensitivity analyses and identification of cost drivers, as well as the CpSimulation add-in module for uncertainty and cost-risk analyses.

P–BEAT process-based economic analysis methodology.
Long description of figure 2.

The P-BEAT architecture is template-based and provides four usage modes (straight-cost rollup mode and dual-pane analogy mode, each using either the innovative process-based methodology or a traditional high-level parametric methodology). This analysis tool is presented in a multipaned graphical user interface with default values and bounds-checking for all user input parameters, along with context-sensitive help and parameter-specific charts and tables. Depending on available data, the fidelity of the analyses can range from first-order, system-level tradeoff studies to detailed, investment-grade, component-level product cost breakdowns. This allows the tool to be used to manage product cost throughout its full life-cycle from conception to production to retirement.

Compared with traditional cost-estimation tools, which are not usually intended for use by engineers, P-BEAT provides the following benefits:

• Predicted costs are based on the known, actual cost of similar products: Estimates are credible to engineers.
• Self-documenting studies describe why costs vary, in terms understandable to engineers and managers.
• Turnaround is fast: An experienced practitioner can generate a first-order cost estimate in about 15 min when working with product development team members.
• Researchers can use high-level parametric input data and/or detailed design characteristics, such as design tolerance and material alternatives, within a single tool. The same tool can be used throughout all life-cycle phases.
• The decision module provides a hybrid analytic hierarchy process/utility function method for evaluating multiple criteria in a consistent manner for any number of design tradeoffs.
• Cost-estimating relationships, input data, and results are archived in a Microsoft Access database to ensure both access security and data integrity.
• A built-in automation mode allows batch processing of thousands of related studies for regression analysis and cost-driver assessment.
• A context-sensitive help system provides on-the-fly user instruction as well as model and cost-estimation documentation.

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Last updated: December 14, 2007

Responsible NASA Official: Gynelle.C.Steele@nasa.gov, 216-433-8258
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Responsible NASA Official: Gynelle.C.Steele@nasa.gov
216-433-8258

Point of contact for NASA Glenn's Research & Technology reports: Cynthia.L.Dreibelbis@nasa.gov
216-433-2912
SGT, Inc.

Web page curator: Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
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