How to figure computing time into cost proposal

[ninjaneer777]

As I was thinking about how much computing time is spent running analysis jobs on 2nd, 3rd and 4rth computers while actively setting up another FEA job on a main computer, I wondered how consultants factor that computing time into their cost proposals.

How do you charge for that? As an FEM analyst 1 hour of solving time does not require 1 man hour, so it would seem unfair to charge the same rate you charge for actively setting up and interpreting FEA jobs, but at the same time the high powered computers and extra licenses aren't cheap, plus you should be keeping track of the progress to make sure it is running as it should.

So it seems like there should be some charge associated with computing time, even if it does not require you to be in front of the computer while the job is solving, but charging the same as direct engineering time seems excessive. How do you guys do it?

By the way, I am not doing any consulting, I am just curious how others do it, especially since sometime in the distant future that might be a interesting route to take.

 

[adamuk]

You have to recover the cost of the original purchase of the software & hardware plus the ongoing licencing costs, so add up how many jobs you expect to do in a year and divide by the number of hours in the year you are having them working.

Add a percentage and bob's your builder... Or anyway you wish to charge it really. As long as the money you made at the end of the year covers your costs plus a margin then you are in the clear.

Adam Potter MEng CEng MIMechE

http://www.ax-ea.co.uk