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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What Being a Leadership Coach Taught Me (And Why This Matters To You!)
Being a leadership coach revealed that our biggest obstacles are often the self-doubts we don’t even realize we’re believing.
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The Upfront Agreement: A Framework for Successful Supplier Collaboration in CVSE
The Upfront Agreement is a strategic CVSE tool that builds trust and alignment between suppliers and customers through clear, pre-collaboration commitments and shared goals.
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Are You Creating Your Life—or Letting It Happen to You?
Unpack what it really means to set an intention, why it matters so much, and how it can radically change the way you live and lead.
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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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