Expert Articles
Explore insights, strategies, and real-world perspectives from leading voices in cost engineering and analytics. These expert-contributed articles cover practical topics designed to help professionals make better decisions, improve processes, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry
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Costing Methods: The Question of Relevance Hasn’t Disappeared - Part 2
See what SPCEA members had to say about how tariffs are reshaping global sourcing and cost structures.
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Yahoo for Accountability
A lesson in transparency from the corporate world—how cost visibility can be the difference between smart moves and costly mistakes.
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Costing Methods: The Question of Relevance Hasn’t Disappeared - Part 1
See what SPCEA members had to say about how tariffs are reshaping global sourcing and cost structures.
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Boost Your Career: Building Your Circle of Influence
Practical guidance for growing your network and increasing your impact, no matter your title.
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Celebrating Five Years of SPCEA: A Journey of Growth and Impact
A look back at the milestones, momentum, and mission that have shaped SPCEA’s first five years.
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The Qualification Matrix: A Foundation for Personalized Development in CVSE
Even the best processes fail without the right people. This article explores the human side of CVSE.
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Survey Results: The Impact of Tariffs on Cost Models
See what SPCEA members had to say about how tariffs are reshaping global sourcing and cost structures.
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Handling Unknowns in Cost Engineering When Time Is Short
Tips for navigating incomplete data, tight timelines, and messy assumptions without losing credibility—or accuracy.
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Luck: Are You Waiting for It or Creating It?
A short read on taking control of your own outcomes and how preparation shapes “lucky” breaks.
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Mastering the Fundamentals of CVSE: Building Blocks for Operational Excellence
Dig into the practical framework behind CVSE and how it helps create cost-optimized, process-driven organizations.
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Did The Cat Kill Curiosity In Costing?
Why asking the right questions—and challenging assumptions—is a cost engineer’s secret weapon.
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Empowering Innovation with Cost and Value Stream Engineering (CVSE):An End-to-End Approach for Sustainable Growth
See how CVSE principles can spark not just savings but innovation and long-term competitive advantage.
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Maximize Your Career with P.I.E. – The Simple Formula for Career Success
Performance. Image. Exposure. Learn why mastering all three is key to moving up, not just doing your job well.
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Inflation: What Cost Engineers Should Understand
Understand how inflation disrupts models, pricing, and plans—and how cost engineers can respond with agility and foresight.
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Beyond Numbers: Why Strong Interpersonal Skills are Crucial for Cost Engineers
Cost engineers need more than math—this article makes the case for communication, collaboration, and relationship-building.
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Top 10 Excel Functions Every Cost Engineer Must Know
Master the functions that matter. This roundup shows how Excel can be a powerful tool for clean, accurate, and scalable cost analysis.
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Cost and Value Stream Engineering (CVSE): Unlocking Strategic Cost Management and Process Excellence
Explore how CVSE unites costing with process improvement, giving teams a framework to drive both efficiency and financial performance.
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Why Every Product Cost Engineer Should Learn Python Programming (Even If You’re Not A Programmer)
Python isn't just for coders. Learn how it can automate tedious tasks and enhance cost model accuracy, even for non-programmers.
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Embracing Authenticity in the Corporate World: Why Being Yourself Matters
This article encourages professionals to drop the corporate mask and lead with authenticity—a powerful asset in any technical or analytical role.
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An Accountant, Financial Analyst, and Cost Estimator Walk Into a Bar
A humorous take on the unique value each financial role brings to the business table—and why collaboration matters more than ever in cost engineering.
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A Spooky Story and a Powerful Lesson in Leadership
A ghost story? Kind of. But really, it’s a memorable lesson in leadership, risk-taking, and trust for cost and finance professionals.
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Understanding the Preferred Degrees for Cost Engineering Positions
What educational background do hiring managers really want in a cost engineer? This article shares what the data says.
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10 Important Skills a Product Cost Engineer Should Have
From data handling to communication, this article identifies the core skills that define effective cost engineers today.
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Survey Results: Where Is Cost Engineering Within The Org Chart ?
SPCEA surveyed professionals about where cost engineers sit—and how much influence they really have. The answers may surprise you.
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What’s The Best Way to Become a Cost Engineer?
This article breaks down the educational path, on-the-job experience, and certifications that help launch a successful career in cost engineering.
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“You don’t know what you don’t know.”
Blind spots can be costly. Learn how to identify your knowledge gaps before they become operational risks.
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The fallacy of Long-Term Agreements OR how not to buy a car.
Using a car-buying analogy, this article reveals how long-term purchasing agreements can go wrong without agile cost modeling.
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Bad costing causes pain and suffering
Poor costing doesn’t just affect spreadsheets—it affects people, careers, and company health. This cautionary article shows why accuracy matters.
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Must Depreciation Expense Be a Fixed Cost?
A fresh take on a common accounting assumption: why treating depreciation as a variable cost might make more sense in today’s operations.
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Depreciation – Fixating on the Irrelevant
Depreciation is often treated as a critical figure in decision-making—but is it really relevant? This article challenges that long-held belief.
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The Capital Preservation Allowance
What if your models accounted for the need to replace capital assets? Enter the Capital Preservation Allowance—a tool you may want to start using.
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Expenses vs. Investments
Not all costs are created equal. Understand how to categorize and justify costs to support better planning and accountability.
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Don’t Ignore the Investment
This piece makes a strong case for seeing certain costs as strategic investments rather than operational expenses—and the impact that mindset can have.
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Do you have high influence on your company’s product cost?
Cost influence isn’t just for managers. Learn how engineers, analysts, and support teams can shape product cost outcomes.
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