Posted by Through-Life Estimating (TLE) – the need to estimate through program life
Applications/Tools Track
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Abstract:
The objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of using one estimating tool to estimate hardware, software, services and IT programs consistently from cradle to grave using appropriate estimating methodologies.
This paper will define the term “Through-Life Estimating” and describe the challenges of estimating an aerospace or defence program over the typically long gestation period of 20 to 30 years – estimating Through-Life.
Amongst other ideas the paper will consider:
• What is Through Life Estimating (TLE)?
• Why is Through Life Estimating (TLE) important?
• The impact of TLE on the estimating community
• TruePlanning 2007 delivery of Through Life Estimating
The value of this paper is providing an understanding of the advantages of using one estimating framework for program life, learn how bid and proposal teams can work quicker together to generate estimates and consider how an estimate evolves from a concept to implementation. The paper will consider what saving of time and resources are achieved with Through Life Estimating and the ability to obtain Quality Assurance.
To demonstrate this capability the paper will consider a case study and track its cost estimating progress from initial conception through to the final design. The paper will effectively walk through a multi-discipline estimate.
Author(s):
Arlene Minkiewicz
Ms. Minkiewicz leads the Cost Research Department as Chief Scientist at PRICE Systems. In this role, she is responsible for the research and analysis necessary to keep the suite of PRICE Estimating products responsive to cu rrent cost trends. She works with industry leaders to collect and maintain cost research data and offers analyses of this data to the cost estimating community through the PRICE products.
Arlene’s most recent accomplishments include the development of a catalog of cost estimating relationships for systems and system of systems projects that will be delivered to the cost estimating community as part of the TruePlanning suite. Her most recent research on software sizing has been slated for publication in the March 2009 issue of Crosstalk.
Arlene frequently publishes articles on estimation and measurement in publications such as Software Development Magazine and Crosstalk. She speaks frequently on these topics at conference such as STC, ISPA, SCEA, IEEE Aerospace Conference, SEPG, and many others. Her ‘The Real Costs of COTS-Based Software Systems’ paper was recognized in 2004 by ISPA and SCEA as Best Paper in the Software Track. Her paper “A Case Study and Assessment of a COTS Upgrade for a Satellite Ground System”, co-authored with Marilee Wheaton of the Aerospace Corporation, received Best Paper in Software Track in 2006 by SCEA and her paper “The Evolution of Hardware Estimating” received Best Paper in the Hardware and EVM Track at the 2007 ISPA/SCEA joint conference.
Dale Shermon
Dale Shermon is a Senior Executive Consultant responsible for Training, Customer Support and Consultancy in Northern Europe. He reports to Grahame Jones (PRICE Systems Manager, Northern Europe). 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, Italy, USA, Australia, Taiwan and Germany. He has conducted consulting assignments in UK, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands. He was responsible for the development of the “PRICE HL Questionnaire” within the PRICE Estimating Suite.
Dale was previously working as a Cost Forecaster within Pricing and Forecasting Group (PFG) a support group of the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). He headed a cell studying submarine platform Whole Life Cycle (WLC) Costs that supported DPA project approvals. He has been parametric cost estimating since 1987.
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 this career he has participated in numerous proposals and studies in engineering fields as varied as satellites, missiles and aero-engines. During his period in the MOD he performed High Level Studies covering all of the armed services.
Dale has presented papers to the European meeting of Space System Cost Analysis Group (SSCAG) in Toulouse, France; the PRICE Symposium in Nice, France, Cambridge and London UK also at the ISPA Conferences in San Diego, California; Frascati, Italy; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington and Orlando, Florida. This final paper “If a little bit of Knowledge is dangerous… what is a lot of Knowledge?” presented with the UK MOD was awarded Best Applications Track Paper for the conference. At ISPA, Seattle the paper entitled “Creating True Concepts, a methodology, not a model” was awarded Best Hardware Track Paper 2006.
He has had articles published in the “Project” magazine of the Association for Project Management, “The Cost Engineer” the journal of the Association of Cost Engineers and the “Defence Management Journal” (DMJ) the management journal for the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Dale was the first European to become an International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA) Certified Parametric Practitioner in 2003. He has been the tutor for the “Cost Estimating Relationships” session of the ISPA Professional Development Training at the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 conferences
Dale has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Open University and is a member of The Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE) and The Association of Project Management (APM). Dale has a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).