Invitation DACE Contactmeeting October 10th: “Alternatives for preparing an (initial) Cost Estimate”

It is the task and challenge of the cost estimator to identify these uncertainties and ambiguities and to clearly communicate their impact on the cost estimate. There may be alternative cost estimation approaches that can help reduce these uncertainties and ambiguities.

SIG CEPI has invited three speakers, namely Geert Henk Wijnants (Stork/Bilfinger), Jan ten Doeschate (Doeschot Consulting) and Edward Rademaker (Shell), to share their expertise on this topic. From various perspectives, they will demonstrate how an adapted or entirely different cost estimation approach at the start of a project can provide better insight for the cost estimator.

First presentation: 'Cost estimation in replacement projects' by Geert Henk Wijnants
Cost estimates are needed for multi-year investment decisions. For existing installations, these estimates must include both the purchase of new materials and the required modifications. The presentation will describe how to approach this in a transparent and traceable manner. The approach is based on four key figures—efficient, effective, and traceable—by building on the DACE cost booklet.

Geert Henk Wijnants (Stork/Bilfinger) is a technical physicist who graduated in semiconductor physics. He began his career at the former Akzo, where he worked as an inspection specialist, focal point for material research in salt factories, group leader of maintenance engineering, and as a reliability consultant within various departments. He then worked for five years as a maintenance consultant at TNO Civil Infrastructure.

Since 2006, he has been with STORK/Bilfinger as a principal consultant specializing in compliance, risk-based inspection, and long-term replacement investments.

Second presentation: 'An alternative method for scaffolding workload calculations' by Jan ten Doeschate
Jan ten Doeschate provides an in-depth insight into 'Scaffolding 2.0': from ad-hoc scaffolding, where the billing method is based on volume, to pre-engineered and planned scaffolding, based on a standard per unit of material. This means that no longer is volume the driver for generating revenue, but rather the efficiency of work. The approach is characterized by assembling a scaffold as efficiently as possible, according to drawings and work preparation, using a pre-determined number of material units.

This method entails a fundamental change in the scaffolding process. Experience shows that the method works, which will be demonstrated through several examples. Jan is eager to share his knowledge with the audience to elevate the calculation methods for scaffolding.

Jan ten Doeschate (Doeschot Consulting) has been working in the scaffolding industry since 1977. He worked for 35 years at Brand/Harsco/SGB and its predecessors, with the last 15 years in an executive role. He then worked for Johann Rohrer Industrial Services and PERI. Jan has also been the chairman of the VSB, where he co-initiated the Scaffolding Guideline. Jan is also a co-initiator of the DACE-REWI labor standards for scaffolding.

Currently, Jan works as a scaffolding advisor through his own company, Doeschot Consulting. Examples include the Willemsbrug and, more recently, the Erasmusbrug in Rotterdam.

Third presentation: 'Estimating Best Practices in the Front-End from the Asset Owner perspective' by Edward Rademaker
What makes an initial estimate a good estimate? The Cost Engineer often struggles with recurring challenges in building an initial estimate. Benchmark figures are not always available, learning from previous projects proves difficult, or there is simply no data available that is suitable as a starting point.

In this presentation Edward Rademaker will outline some of the challenges, and the main prerequisites to make a ‘best possible’ (initial) estimate, from the perspective of an asset owner. He will highlight the importance of the data feedback loop, and he will address the need for flexibility of the Cost (Estimating) Engineer.

Edward Rademaker (Shell) has an educational background in applied physics. He started his career at Honeywell, then joined civil engineering company Nebest for a period of 8 years. In 2006 Edward moved to Shell Global Solutions, where he has been a Cost (Estimating) Engineer since 2009.

Edward has developed project cost estimates for many of Shell’s projects, and he has worked internationally in France (Engineering), Korea (Construction) and Oman (Functional Lead Estimating in Petroleum Development Oman). In 2024 he returned to Shell’s Central Project Services organization in The Hague.

From 2015-2018, Edward was the first Technical Coordinator for the (renewed) “Certified Cost Engineer” course of DACE.

Join us after the presentations for a closing drink and opportunity to expand and connect with the members of our DACE network.

Program 15:00-17:00h

15.00: Opening, DACE Chairman Robert de Vries
15.15: Presentation by Geert Henk Wijnants
15.45: Presentation by Jan ten Doeschate
16.15: Presentation by Edward Rademaker
16.45: Closing Questions
17.00: End of the contact meeting and drinks, network opportunity

You may register by sending an e-mail in advance, this will help us to properly organize the meeting.

Location:
De Soester Duinen
Soesterbergsestraat 188
3768 MD Soest

Route link: <<<Click here>>>

We are look forward greeting you at the DACE contact meeting.