The UCEC was formally organized in 1999, is an approved subcommittee of the UIBC, and is held annually in the spring. The purpose of the UCEC is to improve upstream project and business results by improving cost engineering functional processes through the use of cost and schedule metrics by developing and analyzing upstream cost metrics.UCEC participants include IPA clients who have a common interest in cost engineering and cost metrics development and should represent the cost engineering function in their companies. If the participants do not represent the cost engineering function, they should have a strong commitment to improving that function within their companies.

The metrics produced by the UCEC can be used by the participating companies for the following:

• Support conceptual estimates and schedule development
• Support estimate and schedule reviews
• Assess company performance against industry norms
• Support calibration and improvement of company tools and databases
• Improve asset cost evaluation and concept development.

The metrics are developed from all of the projects in the Upstream Project Evaluation System (UPES®) , not just from the data of the member companies.

For more information on the IBC UCEC, please contact Carlton Karlik at ckarlik@ipaglobal.com or by telephone at 972 381-2862.