| 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 | --- |
SAS/OR forms an integrated component of the SAS system and includes several basic types of programs. These are procedures for scheduling and project management, for decision analysis, and for general mathematical and network flow programming. The project management capabilities can be performed through a menu system called PROJMAN. The software includes procedures for exploring models of distribution networks, production systems, resource allocation problems, and scheduling problems using tools of operations research. Features of SAS/OR software include:
Multiple projects can be scheduled with a common pool of resources. Cost data across multiple projects can be summarized and analyzed, and earned value analysis can be performed. A virtually unlimited number of what-if solutions can be evaluated.
| Raw material acquisition | --- |
| Manufacturing stage | |
| Use/reuse/maintenance | --- |
| Recycle/waste management | --- |
The system is not designed for life-cycle costing. However, required life-cycle information can be incorporated into the system using the SAS/OR components and other applications. The system would typically be used to consider portions of the manufacturing stage of the life-cycle.
| Conventional | |
| Potentially hidden | --- |
| Contingent | --- |
| External | --- |
The SAS system treats costs as a resource. Applications can be developed to handle cost management. As is, the system does not include features for including hidden, contingent, or external costs. However, these costs could be included with appropriate customization of the system, such as through the creation of additional cost categories, user-defined codes, and cost reporting by 'type' of money.
The system is not designed for cost estimation. However, applications for performing various types of cost estimation could be created using the SAS system tools.
| Net present value (NPV) | |
| Payback period | --- |
| Internal rate of return (IRR) | |
| Benefits cost ratio | --- |
| Other | --- |
The SAS system includes procedures for computing NPVs and IRR for uniform payments. Programs for computing payback periods, benefits cost ratio, and other indicators could be created using the SAS system. The SAS system enables users to outline the basics of a project, estimate the profit/loss characteristics and perform an initial cost analysis to decide if it is really worth executing.
The SAS system is a 4GL. The PROJMAN menu system that complements the SAS/OR software is menu driven and users do not need to learn the SAS language in order to use it. Many charts and diagrams can be produced in either line printer, full screen, or high resolution graphics form. Customized reports can also be prepared. Screen options can be customized, including the modification of global menu parameters that control default scheduling options. Sample project data sets can be created, and sub-projects and/or individual project data sets can be copied, deleted, or combined. External existing SAS data set scan be imported into PROJMAN. The CPM, NETDRAW, and GANTT procedures integrate with the SAS system and allow users to develop a customized project management system. As with other SAS programs, users can access the codes in PROJMAN to make any modifications and updates. Thus items that are not currently in the menu can be added in this manner. However, this will require knowledge of the SAS language and procedures. The next release of PROJMAN will make the system completely different. Features will be added to make the system more interactive and more object-oriented.
The SAS system can access, read, and write data in a variety of different data structures and file types, including relational database management systems, hierarchical database management systems, data gateways and applications programming interfaces, operating system files, various external file formats, and SAS data sets. Also, the SAS system is portable across computing environments, which means that it will look and function in the same manner on all platforms.
Users can choose to include a variety of different ready-to-use programs of procedures for various applications, from general purpose data processing to specialized analyses. These include statistical and mathematical analyses, financial reporting, market analysis, etc.
The system includes an built-in tutorial that provides information on the menu system and basic features of the SAS system. No demonstration disks are provided. However, the supplier offers a free, no risk 30-day trial of the software. The supplier offers a variety of services and support options to users. This includes technical support, training (on- and off-site in various levels and formats), publications (training manuals, guides, newsletters),consulting services, marketing and development partnerships, and membership in national, regional, local, in-house, and special interest SAS user groups.
SAS/OR does not have special features or default formats to facilitate the inclusion of environmental cost information in project management. However, the flexibility of the system will allow users to include these features at their discretion. The SAS system itself is not menu driven and requires knowledge of the SAS language for use and manipulation. PROJMAN is menu driven, but in its current format does not include every feature in the form of menu commands.
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