In manufacturing and product development, the terms cost estimator and cost engineer are often used interchangeably. Although the roles can overlap, they contribute differently to the business. A cost estimator primarily translates a design into a cost. In contrast, a cost engineer uses cost knowledge to influence the design, guide sourcing decisions, and improve the value of the final product.

SPCEA recently ran a multiple-choice poll on LinkedIn asking a simple question:
“How are you MOSTLY using AI in your current role?”

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the cost engineering profession, and its impact in the workplace is undeniable.  Manual, repetitive, rule-based costing work is rapidly being automated. If your job consists of little more than generating should-cost estimates, then you are at risk because that part of the job is going away.