Master’s in Design to Cost / Design to Value
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in design to cost and design to value. 12 modules covering value analysis methodology, functional analysis, cost estimation, DFMA, target costing, value engineering in projects, customer value, life-cycle costing, sustainability and digital tools, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the relationship between function, cost and value in design.
Apply the value analysis methodology according to UNE-EN 12973.
Carry out functional analyses with FAST diagrams.
Estimate product costs from the early design phases.
Redesign products using DFMA and target costing criteria.
Calculate the life-cycle cost of products and installations.
Integrate sustainability into design to value.
Who it's for
- Product cost engineers.
- Value engineers in manufacturing and construction.
- Design-to-cost managers.
- Should-cost analysts working with purchasing.
- Product engineers who want cost and value to drive their designs.
- Value analysis consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 12973:2020 (value management)
- UNE-EN 1325:2014 (value management vocabulary)
- UNE-EN 16271:2013 (functional expression of need and functional specification)
- IEC 60300-3-3:2017 (life-cycle costing)
- ISO 15686-5:2017 (life-cycle costing of buildings)
- ISO 14040:2006 (life-cycle assessment principles)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products)
- SAVE International Value Methodology Standard (value methodology job plan)
- aPriori
- Siemens Teamcenter Product Cost Management
- Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA
- Microsoft Excel
- SimaPro
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Committed cost versus incurred cost1.2The influence of design on total cost1.3Customer-perceived value1.4The relationship between function, cost and value1.5Cost over the life cycle1.6Design to cost versus design to value1.7Origins of value analysis at General Electric1.8Organising value teams1.9Product value indicators1.10Case study: cost diagnosis of an existing product
2.1Value management according to UNE-EN 129732.2Vocabulary of UNE-EN 13252.3The value analysis job plan2.4Information phase and data gathering2.5Creativity phase2.6Evaluating alternatives2.7Developing proposals2.8Implementation and follow-up2.9Facilitating value workshops2.10Workshop: value analysis study of a subassembly
3.1The FAST function diagram3.2Main and complementary functions3.3Function characterisation and criteria3.4Functional specification according to UNE-EN 162713.5Cost per function3.6Building the function-cost matrix3.7Over-specified and unnecessary functions3.8Functional analysis of services3.9Functional analysis tools3.10Practical exercise: FAST diagram of a household appliance
4.1Analogous estimation methods4.2Parametric cost models4.3Analytical estimation by operation4.4Costing manufacturing processes4.5Should-cost models by process4.6Cost databases4.7Uncertainty in estimation4.8Estimation in early phases4.9Validation against real quotations4.10Lab: cost model of a machined part
5.1Principles of design for manufacture5.2The Boothroyd and Dewhurst DFA method5.3Reducing part count5.4Tolerances and manufacturing cost5.5Material selection by cost5.6Manufacturing process selection5.7Design for injection moulding and casting5.8Design for sheet metal and welding5.9Function integration5.10Practical exercise: DFMA redesign of an assembly
6.1Market target price6.2Allowable cost and margin6.3Breaking down the target cost6.4Kaizen costing in production6.5Japanese cost management practices6.6Supplier involvement6.7Tracking the target cost6.8Cost gap and actions6.9Target costing in services6.10Case study: target cost of a light electric vehicle
7.1Value engineering in construction7.240-hour workshops7.3Value engineering change proposals7.4Incentive contract clauses7.5Variants and improvements under Law 9/20177.6The optimum time to intervene7.7Cost and schedule in major projects7.8Constructability review of the design7.9Documenting savings7.10Workshop: value engineering of a pumping station
8.1Quality function deployment (QFD)8.2The Kano satisfaction model8.3Conjoint analysis of attributes8.4Teardown of competitor products8.5Value benchmarking8.6Value-based pricing8.7Specifying what the customer values8.8Product architecture and modularity8.9Managing range variety8.10Practical exercise: value-oriented QFD matrix
9.1Life-cycle costing according to IEC 60300-3-39.2Life-cycle costing of buildings according to ISO 15686-59.3Acquisition and operating costs9.4Maintenance and reliability costs9.5Energy consumption and its cost9.6End-of-life costs9.7Discounting and time horizon9.8Sensitivity of life-cycle cost9.9Use in public procurement9.10Lab: life-cycle cost of a pump
10.1Ecodesign and design for the environment10.2Life-cycle assessment to ISO 1404010.3Design for circularity10.4Environmental cost and added value10.5The EU Ecodesign Regulation10.6Recycled materials and cost10.7Carbon footprint as a design criterion10.8Social value of the product10.9Eco-efficiency indicators10.10Case study: eco-efficient redesign of a package
11.1Product lifecycle management (PLM)11.2Cost calculation software11.3Cost digital twins11.4Artificial intelligence in estimation11.5Multidisciplinary value teams11.6Managing cultural change11.7Integration with purchasing and engineering11.8Value programme indicators11.9Training in value analysis11.10Workshop: implementing a design-to-cost programme
12.1Selecting the product or project to study12.2Functional and value analysis12.3Current cost model12.4Generating design alternatives12.5Technical and economic evaluation12.6Life-cycle cost and sustainability12.7Implementation plan12.8Quantifying savings and value12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. You work with aPriori, Siemens Teamcenter Product Cost Management, Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Microsoft Excel and SimaPro in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: a value analysis workshop, cost estimation of a component and life-cycle cost calculation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 12973:2020, UNE-EN 1325:2014, UNE-EN 16271:2013, IEC 60300-3-3:2017, ISO 15686-5:2017, ISO 14040:2006, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, SAVE International Value Methodology Standard.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent proven professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with aPriori, Siemens Teamcenter Product Cost Management, Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Microsoft Excel and SimaPro, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a suitable computer and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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