Start with a transparent cost model for one reference process. Identify which cost drivers deserve engineering work before attempting to redesign equipment.
Process engineers, research manufacturers and teams evaluating production economics.
First product
A scenario calculator with traceable assumptions, sensitivity analysis and a reproducible reference case.
Next decision
A manufacturing reviewer accepts the system boundary and reference case.
Product boundary
Cost estimates are planning tools. Product 1.0 will not certify equipment, release medicine batches or guarantee lower prices.
PRODUCT 0 → 1.0
The Phase 0–5 strategy.
Each phase has a concrete deliverable and an acceptance gate. These are proposed development plans, not completed scientific or product validations.
PHASE 0 / 0% MILESTONECurrent planning
Scope the cost question
Choose one process and define what a useful answer looks like.
Work to do
Interview potential users about a real cost decision.
Separate capital, operating, quality and distribution costs.
Document inputs, units, exclusions and uncertainty ranges.
Acceptance gate
A manufacturing reviewer accepts the system boundary and reference case.
Publish: Problem brief and assumption register.
PHASE 1 / 20% MILESTONEPlanned
Build the cost foundation
Make every input inspectable and replaceable.
Work to do
Create a versioned bill-of-equipment schema.
Attach source, date, currency and confidence to each estimate.
Implement unit and currency checks with a hand-calculated reference.
Acceptance gate
Every reference input has provenance; totals reconcile with the manual calculation.
Publish: Cost schema, reference inputs and calculation specification.
PHASE 2 / 40% MILESTONEPlanned
Ship the first calculator
Make one complete scenario usable in a browser.
Work to do
Build editable inputs with sensible validation.
Show equipment, labour, utilities and quality cost contributions.
Export assumptions and results together.
Acceptance gate
An independent user can reproduce the reference total from the exported inputs.
Publish: Interactive calculator prototype and example export.
PHASE 3 / 60% MILESTONEPlanned
Benchmark the model
Find where the calculator is accurate enough to support decisions.
Work to do
Compare estimates with partner-provided or published reference cases.
Run sensitivity and uncertainty analyses.
Publish error measures, missing factors and known limitations.
Acceptance gate
Pre-agreed error tolerances are met on held-out cases; discrepancies are explained.
Publish: Benchmark report and sensitivity notebook.
PHASE 4 / 80% MILESTONEPlanned
Pilot real decisions
Test usefulness with a small manufacturing team.
Work to do
Agree one non-production planning decision with a partner.
Record time spent, model disagreements and assumptions changed.
Have an engineer review recommendations before any equipment purchase.
Acceptance gate
The partner can complete the defined planning task and reproduce the result.
Publish: Pilot report and revised requirements.
PHASE 5 / 100% MILESTONEPlanned
Release the cost workbench
Maintain a bounded, dependable planning product.
Work to do
Publish versioned models and migration notes.
Add regression checks and a documented update process.
Release user guidance, examples and issue reporting.
Acceptance gate
Reference and regression cases pass; support and limitation documentation are complete.
Publish: Product 1.0 cost workbench.
Progress stays at 0% until the starting scope is accepted and subsequent milestone evidence is published. Phase 1–5 targets are 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. These percentages track development, not treatment effectiveness.
WHAT THIS DEPENDS ON
Build with the right foundations.
Datasets & models library: versioned assumptions and source records.
Manufacturing specialist: review scope, units and cost boundaries.
Partner roles above are requirements. No partner participation or endorsement is claimed.
FUTURE INTERACTIVE PRODUCT
Manufacturing scenario workspace
Open after the prototype can reproduce a reviewed reference calculation.
Published the module strategy, concrete phase deliverables, acceptance criteria and future portal workflow. This is a planning update; product completion remains 0%.
Entries are published with site updates. Planned work is labelled separately from completed product milestones.