Design-to-Cost & Invest-to-Cost
COST HOUSE expertise, now integrated into MASAï
Our engagements combine consulting expertise and dedicated tools, with the support of VALOPTIA, a software solution from the group.
−22% cost price: optimize where 80% of costs are decided
Design-to-Cost and Invest-to-Cost make it possible to optimize the costs of your products and investments from the design phase, where 80% of costs are committed. Our approach combines technical analysis, value analysis, multidisciplinary workshops, technology benchmarking, and governance support for concrete results: 15 to 25% reduction in product costs and 20 to 50% savings on CAPEX, with a methodological transfer to sustain the approach.
- Are you optimizing your costs where the leverage is greatest — from the design stage?
Business Cases & Customer Testimonials
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Business Case
Design-to-Cost program on a product range for an automotive supplier (Tier 1)
22% reduction in cost price on targeted components (€4.5M in savings)
“A replicable methodology deployed across 3 other product lines and integrated into the R&D process”
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Business Case
Invest-to-cost on a €150M industrial investment program (new workshop)
Savings of €18M on the initial budget, i.e. a 12% CAPEX reduction
“A systematic challenge process for CAPEX projects deployed across the group”
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Business Case
Design-to-cost training for 80 engineers of a defense group (4 sites)
Systematic integration of cost in 100% of design reviews
“An average gain of 15% on new product developments, sustained by internal relays”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Reduce product costs by 15 to 25% from the design phase
- Maintain or improve functional performance and quality
- Create a cost culture shared between engineering, purchasing and production
- Integrate a carbon / extra-financial approach
Deploy our approach
- Cost breakdown, value analysis and functional decomposition (VA/VE, DFMA)
- Cross-functional R&D / purchasing / production workshops with proprietary methodology
- Development of action sheets and grouping into coherent scenarios
- Technological, economic and competitive benchmarking
Generate concrete and sustainable results
- Quantified optimization scenario
- Detailed savings sheets by component / function / subassembly
- Documented and internally replicable design-to-cost methodology
Business Cases & Customer Testimonials
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Business Case
Design-to-Cost on a dental imaging medical device
Significant reduction in product cost price, while maintaining clinical performance, perceived quality, and regulatory compliance.
“Objective technical trade-offs, collectively validated, with a Design-to-Cost methodology that can be reused for future product generations.”
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Business Case
Design-to-Cost on a high-volume mechanical subassembly
-18% reduction in cost price on the target subassembly, simplification of the product architecture and reduction in the number of components, with mechanical performance and reliability maintained.
“Methodology replicated across other portfolio references to sustain the approach.”
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Business Case
Design-to-Cost applied to the design of complex industrial equipment
Overall product cost reduction of around 20% and integration of total cost and sustainability considerations from the design stage.
“Technical decisions made objective and validated by all stakeholders, with a Design-to-Cost approach integrated into engineering standards.”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Optimize costs of industrial and real estate investments by 20 to 50%
- Challenge specifications and technical solutions
- Maximize ROI from the scoping phase with alternative scenarios
Deploy our approach
- Cost breakdown and value analysis applied to investment projects (CAPEX)
- Structured challenge of specifications and selected technical solutions
- Benchmark of sector investment costs using our database
Generate tangible and sustainable results
- Quantified optimization scenario
- Revised business cases and alternative scenarios with sensitivity analysis
- Internally replicable challenge framework for investment projects
Business Cases & Customer Testimonials
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Business Case
Invest-to-Cost for industrial investments and cable transport equipment
Significant reduction in investment costs and better control of cost/performance trade-offs, with validation of a major industrial investment in Savoie and strong reintegration of logistics at the heart of the industrial system.
“Secure commitment decisions from the scoping phase and project execution in Invest-to-Cost with budget control and very favorable ROI.”
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Business Case
Invest-to-Cost optimization of an industrial modernization program
−30% on the initial investment budget and improvement of the program’s overall ROI.
“Invest to Cost standards integrated into future projects to sustain the approach.”
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Business Case
Invest to Cost applied to real estate and development projects
Reduction of CAPEX by around 25% and better alignment between usage, costs, and environmental performance.
“Invest to Cost framework reused for future projects.”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Structure governance of optimization programs to sustain results
- Ensure the transition from study to operational implementation without loss
- Sustain gains over time with structured tracking and internal champions
Generate concrete and sustainable results
- On-the-ground support for operational teams
- Establishment of steering committees, milestone reviews, and arbitrations
- Definition of roles, responsibilities, and cross-functional decision-making processes
- Deployment of tools for tracking gains, reporting, and alerts
Deploy our approach
- Program governance charter with roles and responsibilities
- Steering processes, review rituals, and escalation criteria
- Dashboard for tracking gains with automated reporting
Business Cases & Customer Testimonials
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Business Case
Governance and operationalization of a complex industrial performance plan
Effective implementation of the performance plan without loss between study and execution, gains secured, tracked, and documented over time.
“Stronger alignment between operational, technical, and financial departments, and sustainability of the approach via trained and autonomous internal champions.”
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Business Case
Structuring governance and securing the rollout of a multi-site performance plan
Consistent implementation of the performance plan across all sites and securing identified gains with structured long-term tracking.
“Stronger alignment between group strategy and operational execution, with gradual empowerment of local teams in performance management.”
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Business Case
Operationalization and steering of a cross-functional transformation program
Effective transition from the study phase to operational implementation, with significantly improved visibility on progress and results.
“Governance perceived as an enabler (rather than a constraint), with sustainability of gains and management practices beyond the engagement.”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Train your teams in design-to-cost and value analysis methodologies
- Develop internal capabilities to sustain and replicate the approach
- Embed a cost culture from the design phase across the organization
Deploy our approach
- Certified and tailored training programs (2 to 5 days)
- Hands-on workshops on your own products, components and projects
- Coaching project teams in real situations on concrete cases
Generate tangible and sustainable results
- Customized training materials and methodological tools
- Internal certification program with assessment of learning
- 12-month rollout plan and post-training support
Business Cases & Customer Testimonials
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Business Case
Design-to-cost program on a product range for an automotive supplier (Tier 1)
22% reduction in cost price on targeted components (€4.5M savings)
“A replicable methodology rolled out across 3 other product lines and integrated into the R&D process”
-
Business Case
Invest-to-cost on a €150M industrial investment program (new facility)
€18M savings on the initial budget, i.e., a 12% CAPEX reduction
“A systematic challenge process for CAPEX projects rolled out across the group”
-
Business Case
Design-to-Cost training for 80 engineers from a defense group (4 sites)
Systematic integration of cost in 100% of design reviews
“An average gain of 15% on new product developments, sustained by internal relays”