cwicr-value-engineering
The CWICR Value Engineering skill systematically analyzes construction project costs using CWICR data to identify cost-saving opportunities while preserving functional requirements and quality standards. Use it during project planning or when budget constraints emerge to evaluate material substitutions, construction methods, design modifications, and specification changes, then document and track the status of value engineering proposals.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/DDC_Skills_for_AI_Agents_in_Construction /tmp/cwicr-value-engineering && cp -r /tmp/cwicr-value-engineering/1_DDC_Toolkit/CWICR-Database/cwicr-value-engineering ~/.claude/skills/cwicr-value-engineeringSKILL.md
# CWICR Value Engineering
## Business Case
### Problem Statement
Projects often exceed budget:
- Where can costs be reduced?
- What alternatives exist?
- How to maintain quality?
- Document VE decisions
### Solution
Systematic value engineering using CWICR data to identify cost-effective alternatives, analyze trade-offs, and document decisions.
### Business Value
- **Cost savings** - Identify reduction opportunities
- **Quality maintenance** - Function-based analysis
- **Documentation** - VE proposal records
- **Client value** - Optimize value for cost
## Technical Implementation
```python
import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from datetime import date
from enum import Enum
class VECategory(Enum):
"""Value engineering categories."""
MATERIAL = "material"
METHOD = "method"
DESIGN = "design"
SPECIFICATION = "specification"
SYSTEM = "system"
class VEStatus(Enum):
"""VE proposal status."""
PROPOSED = "proposed"
UNDER_REVIEW = "under_review"
ACCEPTED = "accepted"
REJECTED = "rejected"
IMPLEMENTED = "implemented"
@dataclass
class VEProposal:
"""Value engineering proposal."""
proposal_id: str
title: str
category: VECategory
description: str
original_item: str
proposed_item: str
original_cost: float
proposed_cost: float
savings: float
savings_percent: float
function_impact: str
quality_impact: str
schedule_impact: int
risk_assessment: str
status: VEStatus
@dataclass
class VEAnalysis:
"""Complete VE analysis."""
project_name: str
total_original_cost: float
total_proposed_cost: float
total_savings: float
savings_percent: float
proposals: List[VEProposal]
accepted_savings: float
pending_savings: float
class CWICRValueEngineering:
"""Value engineering analysis using CWICR data."""
def __init__(self, cwicr_data: pd.DataFrame):
self.cost_data = cwicr_data
self._index_data()
self._proposals: Dict[str, VEProposal] = {}
def _index_data(self):
"""Index cost data."""
if 'work_item_code' in self.cost_data.columns:
self._code_index = self.cost_data.set_index('work_item_code')
else:
self._code_index = None
def get_item_cost(self, code: str, quantity: float = 1) -> Tuple[float, Dict[str, float]]:
"""Get item cost breakdown."""
if self._code_index is None or code not in self._code_index.index:
return (0, {})
item = self._code_index.loc[code]
labor = float(item.get('labor_cost', 0) or 0) * quantity
material = float(item.get('material_cost', 0) or 0) * quantity
equipment = float(item.get('equipment_cost', 0) or 0) * quantity
return (labor + material + equipment, {
'labor': labor,
'material': material,
'equipment': equipment
})
def find_alternatives(self,
work_item_code: str,
quantity: float,
max_cost_increase: float = 0) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
"""Find alternative work items that could replace original."""
original_cost, _ = self.get_item_cost(work_item_code, quantity)
if self._code_index is None:
return []
# Get original item category
if work_item_code in self._code_index.index:
original = self._code_index.loc[work_item_code]
category = str(original.get('category', '')).lower()
else:
return []
alternatives = []
for code, row in self._code_index.iterrows():
if code == work_item_code:
continue
# Match by category prefix or similar category
item_category = str(row.get('category', '')).lower()
if category[:4] in item_category or item_category[:4] in category:
alt_cost, breakdown = self.get_item_cost(code, quantity)
if alt_cost <= original_cost * (1 + max_cost_increase):
savings = original_cost - alt_cost
alternatives.append({
'code': code,
'description': str(row.get('description', code)),
'cost': round(alt_cost, 2),
'savings': round(savings, 2),
'savings_pct': round(savings / original_cost * 100, 1) if original_cost > 0 else 0,
'breakdown': breakdown
})
# Sort by savings
return sorted(alternatives, key=lambda x: x['savings'], reverse=True)[:10]
def create_proposal(self,
proposal_id: str,
title: str,
category: VECategory,
description: str,
original_item: str,
proposed_item: str,
quantity: float,
function_impact: str = "Equivalent",
quality_impact: str = "Equivalent",
schedule_impact: int = 0,
risk_assessment: str = "Low") -> VEProposal:
"""Create VE proposal."""
original_cost, _ = self.get_item_cost(original_item, quantity)
proposed_cost, _ = self.get_item_cost(proposed_item, quantity)
savings = original_cost - proposed_cost
savings_pct = (savings / original_cost * 100) if original_cost > 0 else 0
proposal = VEProposal(
proposal_id=proposal_id,
title=title,
category=category,
description=description,
original_item=original_item,
proposed_item=proposed_item,
original_cost=round(original_cost, 2),
proposed_cost=round(proposed_cost, 2),Analyze 5000+ IFC and Revit projects at scale for patterns, benchmarks, and insights. Big data analysis for construction.
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