Foundations of Engineering Economy
Foundations of Engineering Economy
Chapter 1
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What is Engineering Economy?
Two Definitions:
Engineering Economy is a collection of mathematical
techniques that simplify economic comparisons.
Engineering Economy involves formulating, estimating,
and evaluating the economic outcomes when
alternatives to accomplish a defined purpose are
available.
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What do we need to know to make a decision?
We basically have two alternatives:
1) Repair the existing lathe
2) Purchase a new lathe now or later
For the existing lathe we need to know:
The cost of repairing the lathe.
Frequency or Probability of break down of the lathe.
Time when the lathe becomes obsolete.
Estimate the future demand for the crankshafts.
Estimate the salvage value or cost to remove the old lathe.
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Many of these questions may be difficult to answer!
That is why Engineers make the big bucs! (pun intended)
My suggestion is to purchase an ACME 3000 crystal ball or
to hire a personal Psychic.
Or you can call the McGinnis Psychic hotline at 1-800-
GETREAL. (if no one answers it is just a joke)
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Economic Decision-Making Process
2) Recognize and Define Feasible Alternatives:
Consider all possible options including the “DO NOTHING”
alternative.
The generated alternatives may not be economically viable.
Examine each alternative and remove any overlapping options.
If the productivity is the about the same for each alternative,
focus only on the costs.
3) Consider the future consequences of each alternative:
Look at environmental impacts, effects on employee productivity,
marketing potential, public relations, etc.
4) Determine whose viewpoint is to be selected when evaluating
alternatives:
Private vs. Governmental viewpoint. Very important when the
public sector is involved.
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Economic Decision-Making Process
8) Evaluate each alternative, using a sensitivity analysis to enhance
the evaluation:
Evaluation methods include: Present Worth (PW), Annual Worth
(AW), Future Worth (FW), Rate of Return (ROR), Capitalized Cost
(CC), Benefit/Cost Ratio (B/C) and Payback Period Analysis using a
Minimum Attractive Rate of Return (MARR).
9) Select the best alternative based on the economic analysis while
remembering the secondary criterion.
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Interest Rates
Investment:
Loan:
INTEREST = CURRENT TOTAL OWED - ORIGINAL AMOUNT
Interest Rate
- Interest paid per unit time.
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Rate of Return (ROR)
- Interest accumulated per unit time.
Economic Equivalence
Two sums of money at two different points in
time can be made economically equivalent if:
• We consider an interest rate and,
• The number of time periods between the two sums
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Economic Equivalence
$16,500
Cash Flow Diagram:
$15,000
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Simple Interest
Calculated on the principal amount only
Easy to calculate
The formula for Simple Interest is:
I = (Principal)(Number of Time Periods)(Interest Rate)
I = (P)(n)(i)
Compound Interest
Calculated on the principal amount plus the total
amount of interest accumulated in previous
periods.
Compound Interest can be computed using the
formula for Simple Interest:
Interest = (Principal + All Accrued Interest)(Interest Rate)
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Example:
An individual borrows $18,000 at an interest rate
of 7% per year to be paid back in a lump sum
payment at the end of 4 years. Compute the total
amount of interest charged over the 4-year period
using the simple interest and compound interest
formulas. Compute the total amount owed after 4
years using simple and compound interest.
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Terminology and Symbols:
A represents a series of consecutive, equal, end-
of-time-period amounts of money. A is also called
the annual worth (AW) and equivalent uniform
annual worth (EUAW) in dollars per year, dollars
per month, etc.
n represents the number of interest periods in
years, months, days, etc.
i represents the interest rate or rate of return
per time period in percent per year, percent per
month, etc.
t represents time stated in years, months, days,
etc.
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