Parametric Cost Engineering in EADS Astrium
Tuti, M.; Rodenburg, Jack
EADS Astrium

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, develops the A400M military transport aircraft, and holds a stake in the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems.

The EADS Astrium Division comprehends the full range of competencies within the EADS Group in the fields of launchers and manned spaceflight, satellites and ground systems as well as civil and military satellite based services. The Division employs a workforce of 11,000 in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Its activities are organized in its three main subsidiaries: EADS Astrium Space Transportation, EADS Astrium Satellites, EADS Astrium Services.

EADS Astrium started to promote parametric cost estimate capabilities within ENS (Earth Observation, Navigation and Science) Business Unit starting from 2003. The development of parametrics was initially funded under ENS process improvement scheme and by on-going projects.

For several years the use of parametric techniques for cost estimation in Astrium Limited (UK) was considered for Rough Order of Magnitude cost preparation in early studies only. The first attempt in Astrium ENS of a full proposal estimate based on parametrics (using PRICE-H) was performed in 2004. In 2006 a full-time parametric cost engineer joined Astrium UK and a common way to implement parametric techniques was initiated within all Astrium business units (UK, France, Germany).

This paper aims to provide an exhaustive overview of parametrics within EADS Astrium with particular focus on the UK reality.

The authors will stress the attention on the way parametrics have been introduced in cost engineering and how these techniques have changed the way to produce estimates, highlighting advantages and eventually drawbacks in comparison with the traditional bottom-up approach.

An overview of the achievements and the available parametric tools will be also presented.

Many aspects of parametrics have still to be analysed and understood within Astrium: the paper will show the efforts already undertaken by the company (e.g. common view across different Business Units) and what are the on-going steps like the development of a common cost engineering database across Astrium.