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This article aims to investigate the usefulness of cost information in the Brazilian federal government, through observation and empirical analysis of the perception of public managers, who are the main users of this information. The data collected from managers of different government entities were treated using the Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) methodology, in order to highlight the interviewees' perception of the purposes, conditions, and mechanisms of access to information. The results showed broad recognition by managers about the usefulness of information, triggering a discussion that puts forward that the vast standardization, the search for improvements in accounting standards, and technological advances are not enough for innovative cost management practices to be successful in public organizations. These reflections indicate the need for alignment between information generated by the cost system and its users, that is, between cost accountants and cost managers, so that the institutionalization of the system does not become a mere formalism of the public sector bureaucracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on collaborative manufacturing process modelling and simulation is of great significance in improving production efficiency and product quality, reducing costs, promoting collaborative work, and supporting decision-making. However, current studies have not offered the optimal costs of node enterprises participating in collaborative manufacturing, and ignored the impact of demand uncertainty of suppliers, manufacturers and customers on costs and economic benefits. Therefore, this paper aimed to study the collaborative manufacturing process modelling and simulation of production cost and economic benefit accounting analysis. First, this paper summarized three cost types, conducted cost accounting for the collaborative manufacturing process, and analysed its economic benefits. Second, based on the basic timed automata (TA) model, this paper used a timed input/output automata with port labels (Lp-TIOA) for modelling test cases of the simulation system. Finally, the experimental results verified the effectiveness of the constructed simulation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the economy, the challenges faced by enterprises are becoming more and more severe. In order to enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises themselves, enterprises pay more and more attention to accounting cost accounting. However, for a long time, enterprises have been using traditional accounting costing methods, which greatly hampered the development of enterprises. The Fourier transform (FT) algorithm is a commonly used information transformation method, which can simplify the complex cost accounting process. Based on this, this paper proposes a centralized cost accounting method for enterprise accounting based on FT algorithm, aiming to fundamentally change the traditional cost accounting thought. The article first analyzes and summarizes the general characteristics of cost accounting methods. Then, starting from the cost centralized accounting method, the paper optimizes the traditional cost accounting formula by using the FT algorithm and proposes a new accounting cost-centralized accounting formula based on the FT algorithm. Finally, starting from the reality and taking W company as the research object, the article focuses on analyzing the application of the centralized accounting method of accounting cost relying on the FT algorithm in the production and operation activities of the actual enterprise. After a series of experiments and analysis, we found that the centralized cost accounting method of enterprise accounting based on FT algorithm has a very high degree of fit with the actual situation, and the accuracy of cost accounting is as high as 70.01%. Moreover, in the process of enterprise cost analysis, the quality of accounting information of enterprises has been comprehensively improved by 31.9%. This fully shows that the centralized accounting method of enterprise accounting cost based on the FT algorithm can bring certain economic benefits to the enterprise and optimize the internal resource allocation of the enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics and particularities found in the organizations that are part of the Third Sector provides the academy with a broad field of research for those addressing subjects related to financial sustainability and the appropriate use of resources. In this sense, the Strategic Cost Management (SCM) provides information and tools capable of assisting institutions in the efficient management of their costs and revenues, generating data on productivity, quality and other critical factors necessary for decision making, whether it is profit or non-profit company. Thus, analyzing the evolution and the characteristics of the scientific production of costs focused in this segment, which is the objective of our article. The methodology applied in the development of the following study was quantitative, descriptive and documentary. The academic production in the period from 2008 to 2017 was sought by consulting the databases of 40 national journals and four of the main events of accounting and costs, resulting in a sample of 25 articles. From the analysis of the results, we could observe that the theme of cost production applied to the Third Sector is still incipient and was mostly originated in the Brazilian Congress of Costs. Furthermore, we also identified that the publications in journals are inexpressive and that most of the studies focused on the survey and analysis of the institutions costs, and the identification of costing tools and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the nature of hospital operations, there are some difficulties in performing cost analysis studies. This study aims to provide useful information to analysts and related managers by revealing what kind of difficulties are encountered while performing cost analysis applications in hospital operations. For this purpose, research data have been obtained by using a questionnaire prepared for senior executives who work for private hospitals, the Ministry of Health hospitals, university hospitals, and city hospitals operating in Turkey. The data obtained from the research have been analyzed by using the SPSS 22.0 package program. As a result of the analysis performed, it has been reached findings that related descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests. According to the findings, a cost analysis was not performed in 48'1% of MOH hospitals, a cost analysis was performed in the medical/accounting department in 49% of private hospitals and 50% of city hospitals and the finance department in 46.8% of university hospitals. The most common difficulties are as follows: Healthcare services are highly complex and variable, the complexity of expense types, locations, and centers, have a sales price set by the government regardless of the cost of the service produced in the hospital; and The price of the service produced is not determined by the cost accounts but Health Application Communiqué (HAC). Accordingly, hospital managers do not give the necessary importance to cost analysis and the difficulties they face are thought to be due to their specific characteristics of health services and cost elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The focus on transition to the input method of estimated cost accounting, demonstrated by the leaders of the construction industry, outlines the principal goals pursued in the process of improving the pricing system. The monitoring of prices for construction resources gains in importance. The research is based on the analysis of the construction industry’s current need for updated regulatory information and an improved pricing methodology. Materials and methods. A relevant problem of pricing, which is now quality-driven, has been solved by the construction industry amidst the strengthening role of government agencies. Presently, pricing is driven by the factors that characterize the course of an investment process, primarily, promoted by the customer. This methodology encompasses the assessment of pricing regulations with a required extent of generalization in terms of any submitted data. Results. The experiment conducted to assess the established pricing regulations in terms of special construction facilities has proven the maximal significance of factors, describing a construction project stage as a correlation between estimated and actual costs incurred by a construction company. Against the background of impeded introduction of changes into costing standards, a pool of solutions has been generated to monitor prices for construction resources and to generate price escalation models. Conclusions. The best methods used to adapt standard prices to actual costs of construction products should involve the monitoring of prices for the whole range of construction resources. Methodological problems are to be solved in a way that must improve the trustworthiness of estimated construction costs. The novelty and practical significance of this research stem from the analysis of the current development stage of the system of federal and industry-specific regulations and methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is a global problem that seriously threatens human society. However, in China and elsewhere, ecological restoration still largely relies on a traditional approach that focuses only on ecological factors and ignores socioeconomic factors. To improve the effectiveness of ecological restoration and maximize its economic and ecological benefits, a more efficient approach is needed that provides support for policy development and land management and thereby promotes environmental conservation. We devised a framework for assessing the value of ecosystem services that remain after subtracting costs, such as the opportunity costs, costs of forest protection, and costs for the people who are affected by the program; that is, the net value of ecosystem services (NVES). To understand the difference between the value of a resource and the net value of the ecosystem service it provides, we used data on VES, timber sales, and afforestation costs from China's massive national afforestation programs to calculate the net value of forest ecosystem services in China. Accounting for the abovementioned costs revealed an NVES of ¥6.1 × 1012 for forests in 2014, which was 35.9% less than the value calculated without accounting for costs. As a result, the NVES associated with afforestation was 55.9% less than the NVES of natural forests. In some regions, NVES was negative because of the huge costs of human‐made plantations, high evapotranspiration rates (thus, high water opportunity costs), and low forest survival rates. To maximize the ecological benefits of conservation, it is necessary to account for as many costs as possible so that management decisions can be based on NVES, thereby helping managers choose projects that maximize both economic and ecological benefits. Article impact statement: Accounting for the effects of costs on the value of ecosystem services provides a net value that more strongly supports policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Active surveillance (AS) seems to be a cost-effective strategy. However, most publications are based on simulation models of theoretical cohorts, and long-term implications are not usually considered. Objective: To assess the real cost differences of two cohorts of men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) treated with AS or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in a public health system. Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed from 2005 to 2009 were included in an AS program (Group 1) or treated with LRP at diagnosis (Group 2), with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Actual costs for each patient were calculated on an individual basis: Group 1: semiannual PSA measurements and repeat biopsies are scheduled every 1–3 years. Costs of outpatient clinic visits were calculated, as well as all tests required for monitoring or active treatment. Group 2: costs of the procedure, emergency visits, re-admissions and outpatient clinic visits were calculated, as well as costs of oncological salvage therapies or functional surgical procedures. Results: Out of 151 men diagnosed with low-risk PC, 54 (35.8%) were included in an AS (Group 1) and 97 (64.2%) were submitted to LRP (Group 2). Mean follow-up for both groups was 6.5 years (SD 1.8) and 6.7 years (SD 1.4), respectively, p = 0.49. Group 1 had a total cost per patient of 2970.47€. Group 2 had a total cost per patient of 5694.06€. Conclusions: AS was associated with cost-saving over LRP. This cost reduction of AS in the management of low-risk PCa is based on the accounting of real costs of individual patients and confirms previously published estimation-based reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an educational review covering the consideration of costs for cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), summarising relevant methods and research from the published literature. Cost data are typically generated by applying appropriate unit costs to healthcare resource-use data for patients. Trial-based evaluations and decision analytic modelling represent the two main vehicles for CEA. The costs to consider will depend on the perspective taken, with conflicting recommendations ranging from focusing solely on healthcare to the broader 'societal' perspective. Alternative sources of resource-use are available, including medical records and forms completed by researchers or patients. Different methods are available for the statistical analysis of cost data, although consideration needs to be given to the appropriate methods, given cost data are typically non-normal with a mass point at zero and a long right-hand tail. The choice of covariates for inclusion in econometric models also needs careful consideration, focusing on those that are influential and that will improve balance and precision. Where data are missing, it is important to consider the type of missingness and then apply appropriate analytical methods, such as imputation. Uncertainty around costs should also be reflected to allow for consideration on the impacts of the CEA results on decision uncertainty. Costs should be discounted to account for differential timing, and are typically inflated to a common cost year. The choice of methods and sources of information used when accounting for cost information within CEA will have an effect on the subsequent cost-effectiveness results and how information is presented to decision makers. It is important that the most appropriate methods are used as overlooking the complicated nature of cost data could lead to inaccurate information being given to decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software cost estimation is a key process in project management. Estimations in the initial project phases are made with a lot of uncertainty that influences estimation accuracy which typically increases as the project progresses in time. Project data collected during the various project phases can be used in a progressive time-dependent fashion to train software cost estimation models. Our motivation is to reduce uncertainty and increase confidence based on the understanding of patterns of effort distributions in development phases of real-world projects. In this work, we study effort distributions and suggest a four-stage progressive software cost estimation model, adjusting the initial effort estimates during the development life-cycle based on newly available data. Initial estimates are reviewed on the basis of the experience gained as development progresses and as new information becomes available. The proposed model provides an early, a post-planning, a post-specifications, and a post-design estimate, while it uses industrial data from the ISBSG (R10) dataset. The results reveal emerging patterns of effort distributions and indicate that the model provides effective estimations and exhibits high explanatory value. Contributions in lessons learned and practical implications are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the allocation of indirect or joint costs among farm enterprises, and elaborates two maximum entropy models, the basic CoreModel and the InequalityModel, which additionally includes inequality restrictions in order to incorporate knowledge from production technology. Representing the indirect costing approach, both models address the individual-farm level and use standard costs from farm-management literature as allocation bases. They provide a disproportionate allocation, with the distinctive feature that enterprises with large allocation bases face stronger adjustments than enterprises with small ones, approximating indirect costing with reality. Based on crop-farm observations from the Swiss Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), including up to 36 observations per enterprise, both models are compared with a proportional allocation as reference base. The mean differences of the enterprise's allocated labour inputs and machinery costs are in a range of up to ±35% and ±20% for the CoreModel and InequalityModel, respectively. We conclude that the choice of allocation methods has a strong influence on the resulting indirect costs. Furthermore, the application of inequality restrictions is a precondition to make the merits of the maximum entropy principle accessible for the allocation of indirect costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care providers currently operate in an environment of complex supply chains and increasing costs where approximately one third of hospital operating expenses are related to supplies. It is pertinent that health care providers have a clear understanding of their supply chain process costs. Knowing how these costs are driven and where opportunities for cost reduction exist can support health care provider supply chain (HPSC) efficiency. In this article, we present a time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) supply chain cost methodology for health care providers. A TDABC management system can provide health care providers with valuable product and process supply chain cost information by investigating logistics activities, resource consumption, and time drivers. Our HPSC TDABC methodology is demonstrated in a case study conducted for the supply chain department of a 200-bed, not-for-profit hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Pre-operative investigations are performed before any surgical intervention under anaesthesia. Many are considered as routine. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding these in India. We aim to look at the relevance of the laboratory investigations ordered routinely and their cost implications compared with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Methods: This prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital. A total of 163 patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures were included in this study. Neither the surgeons nor anaesthesiologists involved in the case were aware of the study. The laboratory investigations of the patients who underwent surgery were noted. All values were categorised as normal or abnormal and they were assessed as indicated or unindicated based on NICE guidelines. Results: One hundred and sixty-three patients were subjected to a total of 984 tests. Forty three patients (26%) were subjected to tests as per NICE guidelines. Of the 984 tests, 515 tests were unindicated (52%). Out of the 515 unindicated tests, 7 (1.3%) were abnormal. None of these seven tests required any intervention or change of anaesthetic plan. The most common unindicated tests done were cardiac echocardiography and chest X-ray (92.5% and 93% respectively). The additional cost incurred towards unindicated tests was 63% of the total cost for the tests. Conclusion: Pre-operative laboratory investigations add to cost significantly. Patient premorbid conditions and surgical grade should guide the clinician to request for the relevant laboratory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low- and middle-income countries need to sustain efficiency and equity in health financing on their way to universal health care coverage. However, systems meant to generate quality economic information are often deficient in such settings. We assessed the feasibility of streamlining cost accounting systems within the Kenyan health sector to illustrate the pragmatic challenges and opportunities. Design: We reviewed policy documents, and conducted field observations and semi-structured interviews with key informants in the health sector. We used an adapted Human, Organization and Technology fit (HOT-fit) framework to analyze the components and standards of a cost accounting system. Results: Among the opportunities for a viable cost accounting system, we identified a supportive broad policy environment, political will, presence of a national data reporting architecture, good implementation experience with electronic medical records systems, and the availability of patient clinical and resource use data. However, several practical issues need to be considered in the design of the system, including the lack of a framework to guide the costing process, the lack of long-term investment, the lack of appropriate incentives for ground-level staff, and a risk of overburdening the current health management information system. Conclusion: To facilitate the implementation of cost accounting into the health sector, the design of any proposed system needs to remain simple and attuned to the local context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material flow analysis is a key tool to quantify and monitor the use of natural resources. A very visual way to undertake such analyses representing the mineral trade is through Sankey diagrams, in which the mineral resources that are extracted, imported, exported, recycled and consumed within the given boundaries are represented with the arrows proportional to their respective quantities. Yet Sankey diagrams alone are not sensitive to the quality of the resources as they only reflect tonnage. This issue can lead to misleading conclusions and thereby not effective resource policies. A way to overcome this deficiency is representing the flows in exergy replacement cost (ERC) terms instead of tonnage. Exergy replacement cost is a concept derived from the second law of thermodynamics and assesses the exergy cost required to return with available technologies a given mineral to its initial conditions of composition and concentration in the mines where it was found, once it has been dispersed after use. Using this methodology, minerals are physically valued in terms of their respective scarcities and the effort (in exergy cost terms) required to produce them. Accordingly, in this paper the so-called exergoecology method is used to evaluate mineral trade and foreign mineral dependency in the EU-28 for 1995 to 2012. Using the year 2011 as a case study, it can be seen using this novel approach that 45.8% of the total input of minerals are imported resulting in lower values of self-sufficiency than if a traditional MFA were applied (0.45 for minerals and 0.41 for fossil fuels, in contrast to 0.79 and 0.52 obtained respectively when using tonnes). Analyzing 10 of the 20 minerals deemed critical by the European Commission, of the total internal production, 0.88% corresponded to critical minerals when data were expressed in tonnes and 3.19% when expressed in exergy replacement costs, highlighting their relevance respect to other minerals. This external dependency leaves Europe in a delicate situation regarding fossil fuels and non-fuel minerals supply highlighting the importance of recycling especially scarce minerals and searching for alternative sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an explicit cost analysis framework built upon the unified reliability method that introduces time-dependent variables and multiple hazards as well as parameterized demand models into one cost-based limit state function. In this approach, reliability-based design of deteriorating structures subjected to natural hazards is performed using a cost limit state function, as opposed to traditional structural limit state in structural reliability methods. The flexibility of cost-based limit state functions addresses the criticism of focusing on minimization of the total expected cost typically used in some available life-cycle cost analysis methods. Furthermore, the framework has the capability to include deterioration models that are functions of time as well as recently developed parameterized structural capacity and demand models for various hazards. The application of the proposed framework is illustrated in a bridge design optimization problem where the column reinforcement bar diameter and concrete cover are considered as design parameters. Two locations in the New Madrid and San Francisco Bay Area seismic zones are assumed for the bridge and the optimum combination of concrete cover and bar diameter is obtained for each location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public sector is presently immersed in a modernization process that requires the development and incorporation of new techniques and tools designed to improve management and facilitate this transformation. Cost accounting is one of the most popular tools used in the local governments. However their successfully implementation is far from being achieved in some areas at local level such as public sport services, which have important necessities of improve and update their financial management. This research examines the implementation of a cost accounting system in eight public sports organizations at local level in Spain. Through action research and multiple case study, we analyzed the starting situation, the cost study course, conditions for success, barriers encountered and the real utility of cost accounting. A need for simplicity and clarity, both of the cost analysis system and the information provided, was identified as a key factor for successful implementation along with a need to define the sports facilities and sport activities as core factors. The main problem identified during the implementation process was the poor quality of starting information related to the consumption and allocation of resources. Finally, our findings highlight the usefulness of a comprehensive cost accounting study for tasks as important as fixing prices or planning the sports activities to be offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine a nearly optimal inspection sequence for a series system consisting of two components subject to gradual deterioration and whose failures are not self-announcing and can be detected only through inspection. Design/methodology/approach – The problem is tackled in the context of condition-based maintenance (CBM) with a maintenance model in the class of the control-limit policies for which the maintenance decision is made following inspection by comparison of the deterioration level to critical thresholds. A mathematical model is developed to express the total expected cost per time unit as a function of the inspection instants. Findings – For any given series system composed of two components with known critical deterioration threshold levels, and for any given set of costs related to inspection, inactivity due to failure, and preventive and corrective replacements of each component, a nearly optimal inspection sequence of the system is derived such as the total expected cost is reduced. Research limitations/implications – Due to the complexity of the cost model with the inspection instants (×1, ×2, ×3, …) being the decision variables, it has not been possible to derive the optimal solution. A quasi-optimal sequence of inspection times is derived along with the corresponding total average cost per time unit. Practical implications – In many practical situations in which CBM is implemented, a tradeoff between inspection costs and inactivity and replacement costs has to be balanced when determining the intervals between successive inspections at which the degradation level of the components should be assessed and compared to predetermined critical threshold levels. Inspecting too often would increase inspection costs but in the same time it would also increase the probability to avoid a failure and end up with a preventive replacement, whereas not inspecting often enough would increase the probability to end up with a failure increasing replacement and inactivity costs. Originality/value – While the inspection problem has been largely treated for single component systems, inspection policies become much more complex when considering multi-component systems. A two-component series system is considered in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual cost estimate can serve the owners' feasibility estimate and assists in the establishment of the owner's funding which aids the engineers in designing to a specific budget. Conceptual estimating exhibits low accuracy level due to the lack of project information and the high level of uncertainty at early stage of project development. The purpose of this paper is to determine the most influencing cost factors in road projects using Delphi technique and Artificial Neural Networks. These factors were employed in a neural network (NN) for building a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model to estimate the road project cost. Historical data of Gaza strip road projects were used to train and test the MLP model. The model developed showed a reduced error rate of 6.3% which demonstrates the ability to estimate the cost of road projects at early stage with higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warranty is a powerful marketing tool, but it always involves additional costs to the manufacturer. In order to reduce these costs and make use of warranty's marketing potential, the manufacturer needs to master the techniques for warranty cost prediction according to the reliability characteristics of the product. In this paper a combination free replacement and pro rata warranty policy is analysed as warranty model for one type of light bulbs. Since operating conditions have a great impact on product reliability, they need to be considered in such analysis. A neural network model is used to predict light bulb reliability characteristics based on the data from the tests of light bulbs in various operating conditions. Compared with a linear regression model used in the literature for similar tasks, the neural network model proved to be a more accurate method for such prediction. Reliability parameters obtained in this way are later used in Monte Carlo simulation for the prediction of times to failure needed for warranty cost calculation. The results of the analysis make possible for the manufacturer to choose the optimal warranty policy based on expected product operating conditions. In such a way, the manufacturer can lower the costs and increase the profit. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the cost-effectiveness analysis in the public health care system in the U.S. It mentions that the cost-effectiveness analysis in public healthcare concerns the measurement and the propeer communication of the value of the new drugs and other medical interventions. It adds that the cost-effective analyses is primarily concerned with the trade-offs related on the choice of alternative medical interventions.

Background: Despite the standardization of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the rate of bile duct injury (BDI) has risen from 0.2 to 0.5 %. Routine use of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) has not been widely accepted because of its cost and a lack of evidence concerning its use in preventing BDI. Fluorescent cholangiography (FC), which has recently been advocated as an alternative to IOC, is a novel intraoperative procedure involving infrared visualization of the biliary structures. This study evaluated costs and effectiveness of routinely implemented FC and IOC during LC. Materials and methods: Between February and June 2013, the authors prospectively collected the data of all patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We retrospectively reviewed and compared the use of FC and IOC. Procedure time, procedure cost, and effectiveness of the two methods were analyzed and compared. The surgeons involved in the cases completed a survey on the usefulness of each method. Results: A total of 43 patients (21 males and 22 females) were analyzed during the study period. Mean age was 49.53 ± 14.35 years and mean body mass index was 28.35 ± 8 kg/m. Overall mean operative time was 64.95 ± 17.43 min. FC was faster than IOC (0.71 ± 0.26 vs. 7.15 ± 3.76 min; p < 0.0001). FC was successfully performed in 43 of 43 cases (100 %) and IOC in 40 of 43 cases (93.02 %). FC was less expensive than IOC (US$14.10 ± 4.31 vs. US$778.43 ± 0.40; p < 0.0001). According to the survey, all surgeons found routine use of FC useful. Conclusion: In this study, FC was effective in delineating important anatomic structures. It required less time and expense than IOC, and was perceived by the surgeons to be easier to perform, and at least as useful as IOC. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of FC in decreasing BDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it is aimed to apply activity based costing (ABC) method, one of the contemporary costing methods, for an construction sector by integrating fuzzy logic and thus to show the applicability of the fuzzy logic commonly used for engineering practices in costing calculations. The name of the construction contracting company that is chosen as the subject of the study and as a reference for the formation of fuzzy triangular membership functions is "Z Construction Contracting Company". Byutilising the actual cost data of Z Construction Contracting Company, an estimated cost structure is formed for a hypothetical K Construction Contracting Company that is planned to serve in the same sector. Based on the data attained, a cost estimation, that can be used as a bid for the same scale company, K Construction Contracting Company, in a tender, is made with fuzzy data that is formed by combining ABC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It can be difficult to estimate volume variances, but knowing what to look for and how to manage all the pieces will help you plan for the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study is aimed at providing a contribution in overcoming the current gap, especially in Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Benefit – Cost (BCA) analyses, due to the lack concerning the green roof disposal costs. Therefore, we have applied to an actual extensive green roof the LCC methodology suggested by D. G. Woodward (that appears like one of the most formalized and generalizable), but we have extended the analysis to the disposal phase. This will allow a complete and proper application of the LCC methodology in order of achieving an economic accounting of this component through its life cycle. In this way, it is possible to achieve the complete evaluation of the “green roof” performance by a life cycle perspective (the environmental performances, in fact, are assessed by means of the classical Life Cycle Assessment approach). Needed steps for accomplishing the cost analysis of the disposal phase of this building component have been applied and discussed. These steps help to formalize the procedure, so attributing it an approach which may be generalized. The relative contribution of production, maintenance and end of life phases to the whole cost of this extensive green roof has been illustrated as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper aims to present and compare the results of the cost-effectiveness of antimeningococcal C conjugate vaccine, which insert new cost data, collected by personal interviews with families of people with sequels, called "family expenditures" for treatment of sequelae, compared to the analytical model presented by De Soarez et al. (2011), resulting from a research project done for the NIP (National immunization Program) on the feasibility of meningococcal C vaccine in routine vaccination. It is shown that as a result of the inclusion of new costs have changed the cost-effectiveness of the vaccine in question, making the vaccine more cost effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the software and hardware inconsistencies and security requirements during the transition between IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, an additional cost will be formed and this cost varies depending on the IPv6 support level of IT infrastructure for each country. Therefore while determining the transition strategies a cost analysis should be done for each method. For this purpose two questionnaires are conducted in order to evaluate the current state of public sector and ISPs and determine the requirements during transition. As a result, data extracted from the questionnaires, it is determined that the readiness of the state organizations and ISPs to IPv6 is very low and the transition cost should be more than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The importance of cost planning for solid waste management (SWM) in industrialising regions (IR) is not well recognised. The approaches used to estimate costs of SWM can broadly be classified into three categories – the unit cost method, benchmarking techniques and developing cost models using sub-approaches such as cost and production function analysis. These methods have been developed into computer programmes with varying functionality and utility. IR mostly use the unit cost and benchmarking approach to estimate their SWM costs. The models for cost estimation, on the other hand, are used at times in industrialised countries, but not in IR. Taken together, these approaches could be viewed as precedents that can be modified appropriately to suit waste management systems in IR. The main challenges (or problems) one might face while attempting to do so are a lack of cost data, and a lack of quality for what data do exist. There are practical benefits to planners in IR where solid waste problems are critical and budgets are limited. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary We study the estimation of mean medical cost when censoring is dependent and a large amount of auxiliary information is present. Under missing at random assumption, we propose semiparametric working models to obtain low-dimensional summarized scores. An estimator for the mean total cost can be derived nonparametrically conditional on the summarized scores. We show that when either the two working models for cost-survival process or the model for censoring distribution is correct, the estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal. Small-sample performance of the proposed method is evaluated via simulation studies. Finally, our approach is applied to analyze a real data set in health economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of new benchmarking indicators used for the management efficiency and medical activity of a hospital and every medical department in the hospital. Topics covered include the different categories of costs in the healthcare industry, the application of the indicators to hospitals and to clinical departments, and the noted characteristic changes of the indicators applied to the hospitals.

This study examines the importance of the theory of constraints compared to the conventional cost accounting in making adequate product mix decisions. To this end, an application in a chemistry enterprise was executed to determine product mix decisions and their effect on profitability by comparing the theory of constraints variable costing method with the full costing method in respect to the throughput approach, the contribution margin approach and the unit profit approach respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider how to conduct cost-effectiveness analysis when the social cost of a resource differs from the posted price. From the social perspective, the true cost of a medical intervention is the marginal cost of delivering another unit of a treatment, plus the social cost (deadweight loss) of raising the revenue to fund the treatment. We focus on pharmaceutical prices, which have high markups over marginal cost due to the monopoly power granted to pharmaceutical companies when drugs are under patent. We find that the social cost of a branded drug is approximately one-half the market price when the treatment is paid for by a public insurance plan and one-third the market price for mandated coverage by private insurance. We illustrate the importance of correctly accounting for social costs using two examples: coverage for statin drugs and approval for a drug to treat kidney cancer (sorafenib). In each case, we show that the correct social perspective for cost-effectiveness analysis would be more lenient than researcher recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a detailed consideration of five manufacturing options that are used to produce aerospace sandwich panels used in secondary structure. The structural performance of each of the manufacturing options is considered along with a cost analysis. By considering the traditional preimpregnated (prepreg), autoclave-cured process, the sources of cost have been investigated, and it has been shown that by removing a portion of the large labor content and the autoclave cure, in favor of an oven-only cure, it would be possible to make significant savings. Monitoring the time to manufacture representative full-scale sandwich panels using the five manufacturing options has shown that by using a resin film infusion (RFI) oven cure, a 30% reduction in time to production is possible. To make an initial assessment of the comparative structural performance of laminates produced using the five manufacturing options, this article also presents results of material quality, in-plane and out-of-plane loading tests. The results of these tests show that the laminates produced using RFI are comparable in quality and performance to laminates produced using the current aerospace industry standard prepreg/autoclave process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the authors' view on the cost benefits of a national stillbirth prevention program. Topics discussed include the authors' opinion on the 2015 study conducted by the publication "Lancet" on the issue of stillbirths, the initiatives presented by the authors for the prevention of stillbirth, and an overview of the cost analysis and benefits of the proposed initiatives.

Abstract: Although numerous reports have compared the antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp., controversy still exists about the use of the E test as an alternative to the agar dilution method suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. MICs of 8 antimicrobials were determined using the E test and agar dilution methods for 103 Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates from fresh chicken randomly purchased from stores in 3 southern Ontario counties. Overall, 72.6% of E test MIC values were within 1 log2 dilution and 95.7% within 2 log2 dilutions of the corresponding agar dilution MICs. For individual antimicrobials, agreement within 1 log2 dilution and 2 log2 dilutions was as follows: ampicillin (n = 103), 90.3% and 98.1%, respectively; chloramphenicol (n = 104), 85.6% and 99%; ciprofloxacin (n = 99), 51.5% and 97.0%; clindamycin (n = 99), 26.3% and 78.8%; erythromycin (n = 99), 52.5% and 96.0%; gentamicin (n = 99), 100% and 100%; nalidixic acid (n = 98), 91.8% and 99.0%; and tetracycline (n = 86), 82.6% and 97.7%. Relative to agar dilution, the E test underestimated the MIC value by a mean of 0.74 (ampicillin), 0.82 (chloramphenicol), 1.44 (ciprofloxacin), 1.94 (clindamycin), 1.40 (erythromycin), 0.21 (gentamicin), 0.94 (nalidixic acid), and 0.20 (tetracycline) log2 dilutions and by a median of 1 log2 dilution for all antimicrobials except clindamycin (2), gentamicin (0), and tetracycline (0). Cost analysis, including materials and labor, showed a 39.0% higher cost per analyte for the agar dilution method as compared with the E test. The most relevant advantage of the E test over the agar dilution method is the turnaround time because testing 99 strains by the agar dilution method takes 3.6 times longer compared with the E test using the same number of strains. The E test is an acceptable alternative for antimicrobial susceptibility testing in Campylobacter because it corresponds well with the agar dilution method although being considerably less expensive, is less labor intensive, and is more rapid. However, the relationship between E test and agar dilution MICs must be considered when interpreting E test results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reviews the role of patient preferences within the framework of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). CEA typically adopts a system-wide perspective by focusing upon efficiency across groups in the allocation of scarce healthcare resources, whereas treatment decisions are made over individuals. However, patient preferences have been shown to have a direct impact on the outcome of an intervention via psychological factors or indirectly via patient adherence/compliance rates. Patient values may also be in conflict with the results of CEA through the valuation of benefits. CEA relies heavily on the QALY model to reflect individual preferences, although the healthy year equivalent offers an alternative measure that may be better at taking individual preferences into account. However, both measures typically use mean general population or mean patient values and therefore create conflict with individual-level preferences. For CEA to reflect practice, it must take into account the impact of individual patient preferences even where general population preferences are used to value the benefits of interventions. Patient preferences have implications for cost effectiveness through costs and outcomes, and it is important that cost-effectiveness models incorporate these through its structure (e.g. allowing for differing compliance rates) and parameter values, including clinical effectiveness. It will also be necessary to try to predict patient preferences in order to estimate any impact on cost effectiveness through analyses of revealed and stated preference data. It is recognized that policy makers are concerned with making interventions available to patients and not forcing them to consume healthcare. One way of moving towards this would be to adopt a two-part decision process: the identification of the most cost-effective therapy using mean general population values (i.e. the current rule), then also making available those treatments that are cheaper than the most cost-effective therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, water supply utilities need to renovate their sludge treatment facilities. This study therefore evaluated treatment of the sludge from drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) by two approaches: an individual system and a combined system. In the individual treatment scenario, the DWTP treats the sludge using its own facilities, whereas in the combined treatment scenario, DWTP sludge is transported to a sewerage system. The construction cost is much lower for combined treatment than individual treatment, while the operation cost is higher for combined treatment owing to the sewer charge. However, the additional sewer charge is less than the increase in cost for constructing an individual sludge treatment system. With the combined treatment system, sludge must be transported from the DWTP to a sewage sludge treatment plant (SSTP). A cost analysis reveals that sludge transportation by road is less beneficial than by pipeline in the sewerage system unless the plants are nearby. In economic terms, combined treatment and a sludge liquor pipeline is the most advantageous of all cases. The total cost depends on the given conditions and assumed unit costs. Sensitive parameters are the sewer charge and the distance between the DWTP and sewer pipeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the central issues regarding cost valuation and analysis for a decision maker's evaluation of costing performed within randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Costing involves specific choices for valuation and analysis that involve trade-offs. Understanding these choices and their implications is necessary for proper evaluation of how costs are valued and analyzed within an RCT and cannot be assessed through a checklist of adherence to general principles. Resource costing, the most common method of costing, involves measuring medical service use in study case report forms and translating this use into a cost by multiplying the number of units of each medical service by price weights for those services. A choice must be made as to how detailed the measurement of resources will be. Micro-costing improves the specificity of the cost estimate, but it is often impractical to precisely measure resources at this level and the price weights for these micro-units may not be available. Gross-costing may be more practical, and price weights are often easier to find and are more reliable, but important resource differences between treatment groups may be lost in the bundling of resources. Price weights can either be nationally determined or centre specific, but the appropriate price weight will depend on perspective, convenience, completeness and accuracy. Identifying the resource types and the appropriate price weights for these resources are the essential elements to an accurate valuation of costs. Once medical services are valued, the resulting individual patient cost estimates must be analysed. The difference in the mean cost between treatment groups is the important summary statistic for cost-effectiveness analysis from both the budgetary and the social perspectives. The statistical challenges with cost data typically stem from its skewed distribution and the resulting possibility that the sample mean may be inefficient and possibly inappropriate for statistical inference. Multivariable analysis of cost is useful, even if the data come from an RCT, but the same distributional problems that affect univariate tests of cost also affect use of cost as a dependent variable in a multivariable regression analysis. The generalized linear model (GLM) overcomes many of the problems of more common cost models, but caution must be used when applying this model because it is prone to mis-specification and precision losses in data with a heavy-tailed log error term. Attention to the appropriate cost valuation and analysis techniques reviewed here will help bring the same level of rigor and attention to the methodological issues in cost valuation as is currently applied to clinical evidence within RCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A Microsoft® Excel-based workbook designed for research analysts to use in a national study was retooled for treatment program directors and financial officers to allocate, analyze, and estimate outpatient treatment costs in the U.S. This instrument can also be used as a planning and management tool to optimize resources and forecast the impact of future changes in staffing, client flow, program design, and other resources. The Treatment Cost Analysis Tool (TCAT) automatically provides feedback and generates summaries and charts using comparative data from a national sample of non-methadone outpatient providers. TCAT is being used by program staff to capture and allocate both economic and accounting costs, and outpatient service costs are reported for a sample of 70 programs. Costs for an episode of treatment in regular, intensive, and mixed types of outpatient treatment were $882, $1310, and $1381 respectively (based on 20% trimmed means and 2006 dollars). An hour of counseling cost $64 in regular, $85 intensive, and $86 mixed. Group counseling hourly costs per client were $8, $11, and $10 respectively for regular, intensive, and mixed. Future directions include use of a web-based interview version, much like some of the commercially available tax preparation software tools, and extensions for use in other modalities of treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Global competition effects higher education institution. First of all, people who graduated from a university must compete with graduates of other countries not only to find a job but also to make scientific researches. Also quality of graduated effects the competition power of companies and nations. For this reason education activities must become appropriate today's conditions. On the other hand, it's important that these applications must be focused on the students. In management literature quality function deployment are used widespread in customer focus goods and services design. It can be thought think that education activities are also services. In this respect; use of quality function deployment in de-sign of cost accounting and management accounting lectures, had been experimented in our study. In our study, we applied a questionnaire to students who attended cost accounting lectures during this questionnaire and will attend management accounting lectures next semester. We investigated attitudes of students about cost accounting and management accounting lectures and about our schools and the other vocational schools in this questionnaire. At first, attitudes from this pool prioritized with analytical hierarchy process. Later were prepared quality home of education services, matrix of service component planning and matrix of activity planning. Thus the evaluations were done about cost accounting and management accounting lectures' design and their attained importance percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract.  We study the distribution of expectation values and transition amplitudes for quantised maps on the torus. If the classical map is ergodic then the variance of the distribution of expectation values will tend to zero in the semiclassical limit by the quantum ergodicity theorem. Similarly the variance of transition amplitude goes to zero if the map is weak mixing. In this paper we derive estimates on the rate by which these variances tend to zero. For a class of hyperbolic maps we derive a rate which is logarithmic in the semiclassical parameter, and then show that this bound is sharp for cat maps. For a parabolic map we get an algebraic rate which again is sharp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a quantification proposal for those quality costs that construction companies cannot estimate through objective criteria, known as hidden quality costs. This proposal will later be the object of validation through a real case: the quantification of the cost of loss of image that a construction company experiences as a consequence of a delay in the completion of a certain building. This proposal is of relevance to researchers in that it demonstrates how hidden cost quantification based on a fuzzy logic model can be developed and tested, and it provides the basis for future investigations. It is of relevance to professionals as it describes how fuzzy logic and quality costs can be used to effectively model industrial construction quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper resolves several controversies in CEA. Generalizing [Garber, A.M., Phelps, C.E., 1997. Economic foundations of cost-effectiveness analysis. Journal of Health Economics 16 (1), 1–31], the paper shows accounting for unrelated future costs distorts decision making. After replicating [Meltzer, D., 1997. Accounting for future costs in medical cost-effectiveness analysis. Journal of Health Economics 16 (1), 33–64] quite different conclusion that unrelated future costs should be included in CEA, the paper shows that Meltzer''s findings result from modeling the budget constraint as an annuity, which is problematic. The paper also shows that related costs should be included in CEA. This holds for a variety of models, including a health maximization model. CEA should treat costs in the manner recommended by Garber and Phelps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on the development of Earned Value Management (EVM) technique. EVM concept was developed to correct serious distortions in measuring a cost performance of a project generated by comparing actual costs with a time-phased budget. Moreover, EVM offers a true picture of a project's cost performance by accounting for differences between work scheduled and accomplished work.

Cold stabilisation is a widely used industrial process to prevent tartrate instability in bottled wines. In this article, current knowledge regarding performance and cost of cold stabilisation and alternative technologies for tartrate stabilisation is reviewed. Whilst there have been occasional cost comparisons between cold stabilisation and alternative technologies published in the literature, existing data is not satisfactory to permit an accurate economic evaluation of the different process options. Therefore, alternative technologies to cold stabilisation, including the Westfalia process, nanofiltration and electrodialysis were compared for both technical and economic performance. The engineering calculations and conceptual cost estimates were based on real world data from an Australian winery. Product loss was a key cost driver in differentiating tartrate stabilisation processes. Cold stabilisation was found to be the most economic treatment process irrespective of scale or winery size. Westfalia process and nanofiltration were the next most cost effective options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A Bayesian network approach is used to conduct decision analysis of nutrient abatement measures in the Morsa catchment, South Eastern Norway. The paper demonstrates the use of Bayesian networks as a meta-modelling tool in integrated river basin management (IRBM) for structuring and combining the probabilistic information available in existing cost-effectiveness studies, eutrophication models and data, non-market valuation studies and expert opinion. The Bayesian belief network is used to evaluate eutrophication mitigation costs relative to benefits, as part of the economic analysis under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Pros and cons of Bayesian networks as reported in the literature are reviewed in light of the results from our Morsa catchment model. The reported advantages of Bayesian networks in promoting integrated, inter-disciplinary evaluation of uncertainty in IRBM, as well as the apparent advantages for risk communication with stakeholders, are offset in our case by the cost of obtaining reliable probabilistic data and meta-model validation procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Taguchi's philosophy of quality improvement is quite unique and challenging. Traditionally, quality management focused on conformance to specifications within a given range. In Taguchi's philosophy, the aim of quality management should be achieving a specific target value. Any deviation from the predetermined target value results in a loss (e.g., due to customer dissatisfaction). Taguchi measures this loss with a quadratic function called quality loss function (QLF). An important component of QLF is the proportionality constant (k). An inaccurate or erroneous value for k can result in misallocation of the organizational resources and can easily lead to chaos in quality management efforts. Thus, an accurate estimate for k is of utmost importance. This paper proposes a new methodology for calculating the proportionality constant k. To this end, the analytical hierarchy process is used to estimate the value of the proportionality constant in QLF. It is argued that the proposed methodology takes into account the relative importance of various quality characteristics and captures different levels of sensitivity along the loss function. Both symmetric and asymmetric loss functions are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and production of aircraft structures is a highly cost-driven industrial activity. Advanced, more reliable cost-estimation techniques can help to improve competitiveness and reduce risk in the bidding phase. In this paper a design support framework will be presented that offers improved information and knowledge about new designs in an early stage of the development. The paper focuses on aircraft movables but similar frameworks can be built for other product families. The framework is based on the design and engineering engine architecture. The design and engineering engine formalizes the basic design cycle and comprises a multi-model generator (MMG) based on knowledge-based engineering principles that creates a smooth link between a parametric product model and different analysis tools, including a cost analysis tool. It will be shown that such an MMG can support the extraction of a cost engineering view on the product model that can be used in combination with proper cost-estimation relations to have more reliable cost information in an early stage of the design process. A cost analysis tool is presented that resembles a cost representation of a factory. The cost engineering view extracted by the MMG is fed into the cost analysis tool to give the designer an estimate of the cost consequences of his or her design choices. Emphasis is put on the influence of the choice of manufacturing concept on costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional cost accounting systems in the manufacturing sector have been replaced in recent years by Activity Based Costing (ABC) systems. This study demonstrates the incorporation of ABC data into traditional Contribution Margin (CM) methods and provides food service managers with an improved tool for cost and profitability analysis. The study uses ABC data collected from a Quick Service restaurant (QSR) in the Southeastern United States. ABC methodologies, using qualitative methods, adapted from an established model for full-service restaurants, allowed for the tracing of overhead costs to individual menu items. Results reveal that ABC is a superior method for establishing overall menu profitability, and that a restaurant manager's menu management decisions will change dramatically if he or she is confronted with differing results from a contribution margin analysis and an ABC approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the introduction of competitive supply, modern electric utilities are forced to operate their systems closer to their security limits. Under such fragile conditions, any disturbance could endanger system security and lead to system collapse. There is, therefore, a need to develop new methods which could evaluate optimal scheduling of operating reserve and forewarn the system operators to take necessary preventive actions in case need arises. An effective method is proposed in this paper to optimally allocate spinning reserve based on a well-being model. The method used in conventional well-being framework for classifying power system comfort zone into healthy and marginal states is initially revised. The optimal value of health index and system spinning reserve requirements are then evaluated on the basis of a trade off between the total cost of spinning reserve and the expected cost of energy not served. The effectiveness of the proposed method is examined using the IEEE-RTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]