The Life Cycle Cost Analysis Module

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Using the LCC Module in Availability Workbench
The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) module of Availability Workbench allows users to build a hierarchical cost breakdown structure (CBS) through an unlimited number of indenture levels. The CBS may be directly linked to cost predictions produced by the RCMCost or AvSim modules. Other costs may be defined as time-dependent cost equations or simple numerical values. Global variables may be defined and utilized in the cost equations.

High level costs are determined either by summating the cost values for child nodes in the CBS or by applying a user-defined cost equation. The syntax of cost equations is easy to understand and the construction of cost equations is assisted by an intelligent code-recognition utility that automatically reveals global variable lists as the user types in an equation.

Phase-dependent cost equations may also be defined. Phases are shared between the LCC and AvSim modules.

In summary the LCC module allows users to define life cycle costs other than those predicted by the RCMCost and AvSim modules. These costs may be integrated with predicted costs in the LCC cost breakdown structure to provide a time-dependent analysis of a system's whole life cycle cost process.