Cost Control Method Research Articles

Discussing the Influence of BIM for the Construction Project Cost

The phenomenon of budgetoverruns is common in the construction projects. The lack of overall projectinformation is the important reasons of causing budget overruns. BIM, as a kindof highly integrated information model, will play a positive role in thebuilding life-cycle cost control. This paper points out the disadvantages oftraditional cost control method, introduces the influence of BIM on costcontrol in different stages of building life-cycle, and briefly describes the present situation and futuredevelopment of BIM.

Design of Adaptive Robust Guaranteed Cost Controller for Wind Power Generator

According to the increasing requirement of the wind energy utilization and the dynamic stability in the variable speed variable pitch wind power generation system, a linear parameter varying (LPV) system model is established and a new adaptive robust guaranteed cost controller (AGCC) is proposed in this paper. First, the uncertain parameters of the system are estimated by using the adaptive method, then the estimated uncertain parameters and robust guaranteed cost control method are used to design a state feedback controller. The controller's feedback gain is obtained by solving a set of linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints, such that the controller can meet a quadratic performance evaluation criterion. The simulation results show that we can realize the goal of maximum wind energy capture in low wind speed by the optimal torque control and constant power control in high wind speed by variable pitch control with good dynamic characteristics, robustness and the ability of suppressing disturbance.

Driving Force Guaranteed Cost Control Method for Independent Four Wheels-Drive Electric Vehicle

As energy shortages in recent years, pollution-free cars are urgent needed, so electric cars become engineering research focus. Dynamics of vehicle with four independently-driving wheels is analyzed to show the purpose of vehicle running control. Dynamic response model of driving system is obtained through system identification, and then be transformed into a control model of driving system. The whole vehicle control method is designed, guaranteed cost control theory is used to design system feedback controller. The equality torque driving force distribution strategy is applied in experiment, and this method has achieved good results.

Determination of weak points based on risk theory and application to transmission network planning

In the traditional power transmission network planning, deterministic analysis methods are widely used. In such methods, all contingencies are deemed to have the same occurrence probability, which is not reasonable. In this paper, risk assessment is introduced to the process of transmission network planning considering the probabilistic characteristics of contingencies. Risk indices are given to determine the weak points of the transmission network based on local information, such as bus risk, line overload risk, contingency severity. The indices are calculated by the optimal cost control method based on risk theory, which can help planners to quickly determine weak points in the planning and find solution to them. For simplification, only line overload violation is considered. Finally, the proposed method is validated by an IEEE-RTS test system and a real power system in China from two aspects. In the first case, the original system is evaluated by the proposed method to find the weak points, and then four planning schemes are established, among which the best scheme is selected. In the second case, four initial planning schemes are established by combining the experiences of planners, and after the evaluation by using the proposed method, the best planning scheme is improved based on the information of weak points in the initial schemes, and the risk of improved scheme is reduced from 42 531.86 MW·h per year to 4 431.26 MW·h per year.

Qualitative Analysis on the Cost Control and Construction Engineering Project Management

A qualitative analysis has been made on the slow development of the engineering project management and corresponding cost control method which has been the bottleneck of the rapid development in the engineering industry and construction production. The economic development of the market and the changing investigation subjects urgently need the reform and renewal to the current engineering project management and the cost control. The unification of engineering project management system in China to the international practice after reform not only adapts the requirements of national economic market development, but also creates conditions for the Chinese construction enterprises to participate in the international construction market successfully.

Managing IT as a business: The Lutchen’s Gap in the 100 Top Organizations based in Brazil

A common problem in IT management involves the lack of business vision on the part of IT executives who align IT to the strategic assumptions of the company, but forget the tactical functions of the former, managed as a business. This is known as the Lutchen's gap. Because of its importance in the context of IT management, this paper is a complementary approach to the preceding one from Rodrigues et al. (2009) and aims at identifying the Lutchen´s gap presence in the management of IT among the 100 top companies located in Brazil. To do this, we proceeded to a description of the profile of IT management in these companies, controlled by the executive board. We used a questionnaire filled out by IT executives, containing 77 questions covering the four functions of IT in a company. The main results indicate that: (a) In the IT's Alignment function, the design of IT reveals dichotomies between business and IT objectives (b) In the IT's Management function, the IT's budget is oriented toward ensuring delivering abilities to IT services and differing in the methods of cost control, ranging from apportion by volume, overheads and by ABC cost, (c) in the IT's Deliver function, evidence suggests that IT is managed as a business enabler; and (d) in the IT's Quality and Safety Assurance, IT executives monitor quality and safety events, but are limited to IT's basic operations. In conclusion, in the companies surveyed, IT is seen much more as on-demand solution provider, rather than as an instrument of innovation and competitiveness enabler for organizations.

Research on the Whole Process Cost Control Methods of the Chemical Piping Engineering

Piping engineering, which involves a plenty of materials and has a large-scale construction work quantity, is an important part of chemical engineering, and how to make a good cost control of it is very important for the success of chemical project. Based on the Cybernetics and Systems science, this paper has established a whole process covered cost control model and proposed the control system for the piping engineering, and the related control strategies have been also proposed on this basis. Finally, combined with some cases, this paper analyzed the application of the whole process covered cost control methods in the chemical piping engineering.

Talking about the Project Cost Management

This paper mainly analyze the cost management from basic concept, cost control method in construction and principal in cost management. The control focal point of the cost management is emphasized in every stage.

A New Conception of Engineering Cost Control of Large-scale Public Projects Under Value Management Conditions

Traditional engineering cost control is to figure out the corresponding quantities of projects based on the construction drawing, and then apply the relevant quotas to determine the cost. However, for some extra large engineering projects, due to design depth, construction technology and other factors, the traditional method of cost control can not meet the requirements. This article will explore a new method for such kind of cost control from the perspective of value management.

Nonfragile guaranteed cost control for Delta operator-formulated uncertain time-delay systems

With consideration that the controller parameters may vary from the designed value when the controller is realized, based on Lyapunov stability theory, a design method of nonfragile guaranteed cost control for a class of Delta operator-formulated uncertain time-delay systems is studied. A sufficient condition for the existence of the nonfragile guaranteed cost controller is given. A numeric example is then given to illustrate the effectiveness and the feasibility of the designed method. The results show that even if the parameters of the designed controller are of variations, the closed-loop system is still asymptotically stable and the super value of the cost function can also be obtained, while the closed-loop system will be unstable if the variations of the controller parameters are not considered when the controller is designed. The nonfragile guaranteed cost controller derived from the traditional shift operator method may cause the closed-loop system to be unstable, while the nonfragile guaranteed cost controller based on Delta operator method can avoid the unstable problem of the closed-loop system.

Reliable guaranteed cost control for uncertain switched non-linear systems

The problem of the reliable guaranteed cost control for uncertain switched non-linear systems that may have actuator failures is studied in this article. In contrast to previous works on this problem, the basic assumption that actuators which never fail must stabilise the system is not needed for the present theoretic result. Thus, the method of guaranteed cost control is further extended. On the grounds of the switching control approach, a sufficient condition for the existence of the hybrid state feedback reliable guaranteed cost controller is derived by means of multiple-Lyapunov function technique. Finally, an elaborated illustrative example demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed extension of the guaranteed cost control method.

Cost Control Is One of Radiology’s Greatest Threats

R t P C R G t m A c s radiology and imaging coninue to occupy a central role in atient care, those of us who proide these necessary medical serices come under increased scruiny, and our specialty becomes ncreasingly threatened by numerous xternal forces. Therefore, it is imortant to identify those threats, unerstand them, and create effective esponses to them to preserve the pecialty of radiology. In this artile, I would like to share my opinons on what I believe to be one of he greatest threats to radiology and maging: regulatory and business nitiatives to control cost. We have all heard the phrase perception is reality,” and to a arge extent, that is true in today’s ociety. Imaging is perceived as a est. The test is perceived as very xpensive. The test is often pereived as unnecessary. Radiologists re perceived as wealthy. Primary are physicians are perceived as unerpaid. Regulatory systems are erceived as inefficient. Congress nd its advisory groups perceive hemselves as omniscient. Health are costs are perceived as a compay’s worst enemy. Niche industries erceive these other perceptions as usiness opportunities. Cost control is paramount to the uccess of American business, and S industry cannot compete in a lobal market unless it achieves ealth care cost control. Medicare annot finance care for an aging opulation without controlling osts. Methods of cost control can nclude the control and modulaion of rising cost trends as well as he actual reduction of existing t osts. Individual businesses, private ayers, and regulatory groups seek o identify the cost trend outliers as ell as the costs that are easiest to ontrol or reduce. Congress and the enters for Medicare and Medicaid ervices (CMS) do likewise. Costs elated to entities considered to be sacred cows” may indeed be outlirs but are often the hardest to conrol because of concern about backash. Imaging is perceived as an exensive test. Medicare officially reers to imaging as a “test” [1]. That erception is not reality, but it hreatens us. What a radiologist oes is provide medical care. The est is provided by the facility that reates the images. The test is ineed expensive, but the radiologist s perceived as part of that high exense. Our professional compensaion is therefore at risk by associaion. We are clearly not a sacred ow, because our identity and funcion are widely misperceived or unnown. Imaging is often perceived as an nnecessary test. The literature bounds with data on overutilizaion and inappropriate utilization 2,3]. Managed care, Stark I and II, nd physician education are all atempts to stem the tide but are pereived as not getting the job done. maging cost escalation continues o frustrate business and regulators. Primary care physicians are pereived as underpaid sacred cows. ithin the process of the most reent American Medical Association AMA) Relative Value Update ommittee (RUC) 5-year review, here was an increase in the value of c

Adaptive guaranteed cost control of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems

This paper proposes an adaptive guaranteed cost control (GCC) method for a class of nonlinear systems with uncertainties, which guarantees the system cost to be bounded by some specified values while adaptively compensating for the effects of uncertainties and nonlinearities in the system dynamics. By Lyapunov's theory and linear matrix inequality techniques, a parameter adaptation law and a sufficient condition for GCC design are derived for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. Simulation results on a mechanical system with hard nonlinearity show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Delay-Dependent Guaranteed Cost Control for T–S Fuzzy Systems With Time Delays

This study introduces a guaranteed cost control method for nonlinear systems with time-delays which can be represented by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models with time-delays. The state feedback and generalized dynamic output feedback approaches are considered. The generalized dynamic output feedback controller is presented by a new fuzzy controller architecture which is of dual indexed rule base. It considers both the dynamic part and the output part of T-S fuzzy model which guarantees that the controller without any delay information can stabilize time-delay T-S fuzzy systems. Based on delay-dependent Lyapunov functional approach, some sufficient conditions for the existence of state feedback controller are provided via parallel distributed compensation (PDC) first. Second, the corresponding conditions are extended into the generalized dynamic output feedback closed-loop system via so-called generalized PDC technique. The upper bound of time-delay can be obtained using convex optimization such that the system can be stabilized for all time-delays whose sizes are not larger than the bound. The minimizing method is also proposed to search the suboptimal upper bound of guaranteed cost function. The effectiveness of the proposed method can be shown by the simulation examples.

ELEMENT METHOD OF COST CONTROL

The ‘Element method of Cost Control’ introduces a hierarchical set of functional building elements. There are two groups of elements in building construction. The space delimiting elements are the elements, which are able to define spaces such as roofs, walls, floors etc. The space equipping elements are those, which furnish the space such as sanitary, electrical or air-conditioning elements. The elements are then sub divided into sub elements such as ground floor, curtain wall, internal wall etc. The first step of this method is to define each and every element as independently as possible. Late it it becomes feasible to select different solutions for sub elements without affecting the others. The main objective of this hierarchical system is to ‘create the possibility to obtain a large variety of solutions by combining parts’. The next step includes ‘Codification’. Each and every time in the element is codified for the regularization of the method and form the application in a computer model. The items can comprise its values from an authorized database of cost for example ‘schedule of rates’ can be used. The analysis is carried out beginning from the database. This database is used in the elaboration of the spreadsheets of each sub element. The spreadsheet for every individual sub element comprises detailed specification from the detailed drawings. As rates are linked with the database, a ‘Bill-of-Quantity’ is easily deducted from the spreadsheets. If, following this estimation, the project is within the budgetary constraints, the process can continue with phases like preparing specification, calling for tender etc. If not, the problematic part of revising major options of the project parts (macro elements, elements, sub-elements) is eased down by changing certain specifications. As they are all linked to he database with unit rates for construction costs, the whole process taken only minutes. The second important constraint other than budgetary, is the design constraint. The Architect’s job is to decide between different design alternatives for a particular project and select the one, which is the best. Always the best one is not the most economical one. The presence of the spreadsheet allows the architect to develop designs and simultaneously check the effect on the total cost. In certain circumstances, it helps the architect to decide the best cost-effective design solution. Another very important advantage of this element method is that it helps to make reliable predictions starting from the first phase of the design process and can be used when the project is being implemented. So cost - checking is not postponed for the time of completion of the project. The advantage of making a model is that we can easily understand the links between other elements of construction such as time and production. The more all those aspects are integrated in one bigger model, the more specific the model becomes. As a consequence, the model will never be suited to another context. But it eventually serves two main purposes: to enhance the insights in all those cross-links and to stimulate the elaboration of integrated models appropriate for a given context. Keywords: Element Method, Parametric models, Space delimiting elements, space equipping elements, codification, budgetary constraint, design constraint, schedule of rates.

Value Recovery from Two Mechanized Bucking Operations in the Southeastern United States

Abstract The value recovered from two mechanized bucking operations in the southeastern United States was compared with the optimal value computed using an individual-stem log optimization program, AVIS. The first operation recovered 94% of the optimal value. The main cause for the value loss was a failure to capture potential sawlog volume; logs were bucked to a larger average small end diameter than necessary. The result was that a portion of the stem with potential sawlog volume was being converted into lower value pulpwood. Although the value loss was relatively small, the length measurements were outside of the acceptable range and the machine needed to be recalibrated. The second operation recovered only 58% of the optimal value. The main cause of loss was poor length measurement, producing a number of short logs that would have been rejected as chip-and-saw logs. Statistical quality control charts from both operations show that logs were being cut too long for the first operation studied and too short for the second operation. These low cost control methods should be required for monitoring mechanized bucking operations. We believe they will help to reduce the value lost from inconsistent measurements. South. J. Appl. For. 27(4):259–263.

The coming third health care revolution: personal empowerment.

The financing and organization of health care in the United States has been rapidly evolving in the last 30 years. Managed care and capitation have largely replaced fee-for-service as a way to pay providers. Cost-control initiatives were developed by payers. These crude cost-control methods proved insufficient and new approaches were developed. These might be referred to as disease management that includes evidence-based medicine and outcomes measurement. It is proposed that a third revolution, patient empowerment, is just starting. The potential far-reaching consequences are described, discussed, and analyzed here, including their cost consequences.

Bush’s Proposed Health Budget Inadequate, Committee Says

Bush’s Proposed Health Budget Inadequate, Committee Says

DYNAMIC COST CONTROL METHOD IN PRODUCTION PROCESS AND ITS APPLICATION

This paper, by combining optimal control method with the famous advanced cost management experiences of Handan Steel & Iron Corporation, presents dynamic cost control method in production process. With the support of information technology, this cost control method emphasises real-time following material fluid and collecting cost data so as to implement on-line cost control. Furthermore, this method has been successfully applied in Handan Steel & Iron Corporation and has brought about remarkable benefits for the enterprise. Copyright © 2002 IFAC

How low can you go? The impact of reduced benefits and increased cost sharing.

Amid escalating health care costs and a managed care backlash, employers are considering traditional cost control methods from the pre-managed care era. We use an actuarial model to estimate the premium-reducing effects of two such methods: increasing employee cost sharing and reducing benefits. Starting from a baseline plan with rich benefits and low cost sharing, estimated premium savings as a result of eliminating five specific benefits were about 22 percent. The same level of savings was also achieved by increasing cost sharing from a 15 dollars copayment with no deductible to 20 percent coinsurance and a 250 dollars deductible. Further increases in cost sharing produced estimated savings of up to 50 percent. We discuss possible market- and individual-level effects of the proliferation of plans with high cost sharing and low benefits.