Model-based design continues to yield unprecedented speeds in technology solution development. Integrated and data-driven Model-Based Cost Engineering (“MBCE”) promises to estimate concurrently at the speed of design. Depending on the job size, that could mean the team receives updates in days instead of weeks. Taking advantage of MBCE requires vision, starts with just a couple of inputs, and can adapt based on organizational maturity. This presentation discusses critical attributes regarding people, processes, data, and technology that impact the success of model-based costing. Model-based design should derive optimal technology solutions with achievable implementations supported by affordable cost estimates. Simply put, the best solution must also be executable with acceptable costs. Organizational readiness to adopt MBCE, informed by model-based design, reflects the commitment to streamlined, credible, repeatable, integrated business processes that responds to high and increasing expectations in today’s market.

Jim Golden is a Solutions Consultant and U.S. Army lead for Unison Cost Engineering and is responsible for supporting all U.S. Army organizations in cost estimating and analysis. He has over 30 years of experience in cost estimating and financial analysis with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. Jim is a Level 3 Certified Acquisition Professional in both Cost Estimating and Financial Management and is Level 3 certified under the DoD Financial Management Certification program. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Financial Analyst; the former Cost Chief of the U.S. Army’s PEO STRI; and a U.S. Army Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.