Design to Cost & Invest to Cost
COST HOUSE expertise, now integrated into MASAÏ
Our projects combine consulting expertise and dedicated tools, supported by VALOPTIA, a software solution from the group.
−22% cost price: optimize where 80% of costs are determined
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, cross-functional 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 — right from the design stage?
Business Cases & Témoignages Clients
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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 an industrial investment program of €150M (new workshop)
Savings of €18M on the initial budget, i.e., a 12% CAPEX reduction
“A process for systematically challenging CAPEX projects deployed across the group”
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Business Case
Design-to-Cost training for 80 engineers in 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 shared cost culture between engineering, purchasing and production
- Integrate a carbon / non-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
- Building action sheets and grouping them into coherent scenarios
- Technological, economic and competitive benchmarking
Generate concrete and sustainable results
- Quantified optimization scenario
- Detailed savings sheets by component / function / sub-assembly
- Documented and internally replicable design-to-cost methodology
Business Cases & Témoignages Clients
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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 validated collectively, 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 sub-assembly for an automotive supplier
-18% cost price on the target sub-assembly, simplification of 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 for an energy player
Overall product cost reduction of around 20% and integration of total cost and sustainability considerations from the design phase.
“Objective technical decisions validated by all stakeholders, with a Design-to-Cost approach integrated into engineering standards.”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Optimize the 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 concrete and sustainable results
- Quantified optimization scenario
- Revised business cases and alternative scenarios with sensitivity analysis
- Replicable internal investment project challenge framework
Business Cases & Témoignages Clients
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Business Case
Invest to Cost on 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.
“Commitment decisions secured from the scoping phase and project delivery 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 for a multi-plant group
−30% on the initial investment budget and improvement of the overall program 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 (offices, operational centers) for a service provider
Reduction of CAPEX by around 25% and better alignment between uses, costs and environmental performance.
“Invest to Cost framework reused for future projects.”
Understand your objectives and priorities
- Structure the 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 ownership
Generate concrete and sustainable results
- On-site support for operational teams
- Establishment of steering committees, milestone reviews, and arbitration
- 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
- Management processes, review rituals, and escalation criteria
- Dashboard for tracking gains with automated reporting
Business Cases & Témoignages Clients
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Business Case
Governance and operationalization of a complex industrial performance plan for a waste treatment and recovery company (anonymized)
Effective implementation of the performance plan without loss between study and execution, with gains secured, tracked, and documented over time.
“Stronger alignment between operational, technical, and financial departments, and sustainability of the approach through trained and autonomous internal stakeholders.”
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Business Case
Structuring governance and securing the deployment of a multi-site performance plan for a European industrial group
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 management of a cross-functional transformation program for a service provider with high operational intensity
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 sustained gains and management practices beyond the mission.”
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-focused culture from the design stage across the entire 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-life situations on concrete cases
Deliver concrete and sustainable results
- Customized training materials and methodological tools
- Internal certification program with skills assessment
- 12-month deployment plan and post-training support
Business Cases & Témoignages Clients
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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”
-
Business Case
Invest-to-cost on a €150M industrial investment program (new workshop)
€18M savings on the initial budget, representing a 12% CAPEX reduction
“A systematic challenge process for CAPEX projects deployed across the entire group”
-
Business Case
Design-to-cost training for 80 engineers in a defense group (4 sites)
Systematic integration of cost into 100% of design reviews
“An average gain of 15% on new product developments, sustained through internal ownership”