| Financial analysis: |  |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Financial analysis: | |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Cost control | |
| Resource control | --- |
| Estimating control | |
| Schedule control | --- |
| Scope control | |
| Risk control | --- |
The system requirements are:
The system can also be run on a network, in which case any MS Windows compatible network may be used.
Success is a Windows-based estimating and cost management system. The system allows users to prepare conceptual as well as detailed estimates. Features of Success include the following:
Success can be used directly with GTCO roll-up digitizers. Success can be shipped with RS Means, Richardson, and/or the US Army Corps of Engineers UPB(free of charge) databases. It also supports all TRACES RACER models (free of charge).
| Raw material acquisition | --- |
| Manufacturing stage | |
| Use/reuse/maintenance | --- |
| Recycle/waste management | --- |
The system is not designed to consider more than one life-cycle stage, and this would typically be the manufacturing stage of the life cycle. The system has been designed for estimating construction costs, and any cost information received from SoftCost would probably be limited to this area. Success also supports all TRACES RACER models that can be used for estimating remediation-related costs.
It may be possible to include life-cycle information by defining different WBS levels for each stage. An unlimited number of WBS levels can be defined. If users do not need to keep the life-cycle stages distinct, this information can be incorporated in existing formats. Users would need to independently develop cost data and estimating methods from different sources if full life-cycle costs need to be estimated.
| Conventional | |
| Potentially hidden | |
| Contingent | --- |
| External | --- |
The system is designed to consider conventional costs, and also can include some aspects of hidden costs. US Cost has developed 'decision trees' in SUCCESS for environmental cleanup activities.[1] Success can use the TRACES environmental assemblies to estimate hidden costs associated with environmental technologies. It is possible to include other environmental costs within Success. However, cost data supporting estimation of all environmental costs is not available.
If users can develop the appropriate relationship models, parameters, and unit costs, the modeling capability of the system can be utilized to estimate quantities and costs for specific items that generate these environmental costs. For example, users may be able to develop relationship models linking one or more parameter (preferably a conventional item for which data is available) such as quantity of paint, to generate quantities of an item, such as air pollution(using a chosen unit, with an imputed value) that result in an environmental cost. Second, users can directly input costs into the estimate from their own sources. The detail item fields in Success are fixed, and the program computes totals for a pre-defined set of categories (e.g., direct, indirect). However, users could use three fields called "other" to detail some environmental costs. For instance, users could say that use of a particular type of paint results in conventional costs and other costs, such as hidden or external costs, each with a calculated, imputed or estimated value. Equipment costs can be detailed to include values of fuel costs, repair and maintenanc costs, operating costs, etc. by using the markup feature for each designated equipment in the equipment table.
The system utilizes unit cost and parametric estimating techniques. Success is compatible with databases such as R.S. Means, Richardson Engineering Services, Army Corps of Engineers UPB, and Navy CES. The parametric estimating feature allows users to prepare estimates using broad project parameters to select assemblies and calculate quantities. Users can use predefined models in Success, modify them, or create their own using the visual modeling tools. The parametric estimator automatically calculates quantities for line items or WBS levels.
Users can simultaneously access multiple projects or databases. Unlimited project resources include labor, equipment, crews, crew adjustments, materials, contractors, and currency exchange.
| Net present value (NPV) | --- |
| Payback period | --- |
| Internal rate of return (IRR) | --- |
| Benefits cost ratio | --- |
| Other | --- |
The Success Toolkit allows users to add the Visual Basic application which allows seamless interface with other products. This can be used to transfer data to products that have financial functions. The report writer also allows users to establish some equations.
The system has an on-line help feature. The R&R report writer for Windows comes as an integral part of Success. The Windows and menu-driven structure is a plus point. New features of version 2.2 include Success Scheduler that automatically generates a schedule in MS Project using OLE 2.0,Success Toolkit Version 2.2 (optional) that allows users to seamlessly connect Success to CAD, CAE, scheduling, project management, and corporate management systems. Success Model Estimating allows budgets to be prepared in minutes with as little as one data selection.
SoftCost offers the U.S. Cost Inc. database and the Army Corps of Engineers UPB at no cost. They also provide the TRACES environmental assemblies database at no cost. US Cost has developed 'decision trees' in SUCCESS for environmental cleanup activities and is in the process of more fully automating the decision process using the Success toolkit for Windows.
Success provides users with working demonstration disks that permit limited application of program features to a sample project. Annual maintenance options and telephone support are offered. Training is available for the basic system, parametric estimating, building/parametric models, and advanced users (including reporting).
The WBS tree allows for users' convenience, but project details cannot be viewed at every level. Users can view totals at each WBS level, such as labor, materials, and overheads, but cannot tell the source of these estimates or view the detailed itemized cost breakdown. The detailed breakdown can be viewed on the spreadsheet associated with the final breakdown at each WBS level.
The system has not been designed for life-cycle costing and for including all cost categories. Users would need to independently develop estimating methods and cost data for including environmental cost information in projects.
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