Course Code: CENG-02
Goal: Establish a reliable and accurate data foundation for estimating.

Session Overview

Duration: 1 Hour
Delivery Format: Virtual (Microsoft Teams) or In-Person
Participant Level: Beginner Users
Resources Provided:

• Configuration Worksheet.
• Quick-Reference Setup Guide.
• Embedded Video Tutorial
  

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Create parts and materials within CUBE, including unit cost management.
• Configure labor classifications, rates, and hours to reflect project-specific requirements.
• Leverage the Utility Module to incorporate specialized or indirect project costs.
• Utilize notes and tags to support estimate transparency and team coordination
  

 

Agenda

 

  1. Parts & Materials Configuration

1.1 Understanding Parts in the Estimating Workflow

• Gain a clear understanding of the role of Parts within the CUBE estimating process.
• Navigate to the Parts and Labor section and explore how it integrates with the broader workflow.
• Distinguish between different Part Types and their appropriate use cases within systems and estimates
  

1.2 Navigating and Using the Parts Module

• Conduct a focused walkthrough of the Parts Module interface and available features.
• Learn how to search, filter, and manage parts effectively.
• Understand how the module supports cost tracking, vendor management, and system performance
  

1.3 Vendor Management and Cost Strategy

• Learn how to assign and manage multiple Vendors for a single part.
• Compare vendor costs and availability to ensure best-value selection.
• Use vendor logic to control source pricing dynamically in estimates.

1.4 Structuring Parts Data for Clarity and Consistency

• Apply naming conventions and categorization best practices.
• Understand how structured data improves scalability, collaboration, and reporting.
• Utilize standard formatting for descriptions, SKUs, and internal references
  

1.5 Products and Kits

• Understand the function of Products as part of the parts hierarchy and how they simplify configuration.
  
• Explore the use of Kits for grouping components—learn how to create, manage, and apply them across systems.
• Leverage Kits to reduce redundancy, speed up configuration, and maintain consistency
  

1.6 Managing Unit Costs

• Configure Unit Costs using data from vendor inputs, historical pricing, or internal benchmarks.
• Apply manual overrides when necessary to reflect real-time pricing or project-specific adjustments.
• Use update strategies to ensure cost data remains current and accurate across all estimates.
  

1.7 Categories, Documentation & Control Data

• Understand the function of Part Categories in organizing and filtering parts within the system.
• Apply categories strategically to improve searchability, workflow integration, and reporting accuracy.
• Leverage Part Documentation to support internal standards, traceability, and compliance.
• Manage Control Data (e.g., manufacturer, specification, classification fields) to maintain data integrity and ensure consistency throughout the parts database 

 

    2. Labor Setup

2.1 Creating and Managing Labor Classifications

• Define labor classifications that reflect common job roles or trade types (e.g., Technician, Installer, Project Manager).
• Maintain a clear naming convention to ensure consistency across projects.
• Assign labor classifications to systems and components to enable accurate labor cost calculation and reporting.
• Ensure your classification structure is scalable for both small and large projects
  

2.2 Setting Default Labor Rates and Cost Multipliers

• Input standard hourly rates for each labor classification.
• Apply cost multipliers (e.g., for burdened labor costs such as taxes, insurance, tools, and training).
• Understand how labor rates influence total estimated value and downstream profitability.
• Configure rate tables that can be reused across multiple estimates or tailored for project-specific needs.
  

2.3 Allocating Labor Ratios and Understanding Their Role

• Allocate labor effort across classifications using labor ratios (e.g., 80% Technician, 20% Apprentice).
• Apply ratios at the system level to reflect actual field deployment scenarios.
• Understand how labor ratios drive accurate hour calculations and cost summaries.
• Use ratios to fine-tune labor allocation in systems that require mixed-skill labor
  

2.4 Regional Labor Configuration

• Set up region-based labor tables to reflect geographic cost variations.
• Apply region-specific overrides to estimates where applicable (e.g., union rates, prevailing wage requirements).
• Understand how regions integrate with both labor rates and system behavior.
• Ensure labor estimates remain accurate across multi-site or out-of-area projects.

2.5 Understanding the Relationship Between Labor, Systems, and Estimates

• Explore how labor classifications are assigned to systems during estimate development.
• Learn how labor configuration affects the calculated labor cost, man-hours, and the overall system pricing.
• Understand the connection between estimating inputs and real-world execution through proper labor setup.
• Use CUBE’s reporting tools to track labor distribution, estimate accuracy, and labor cost breakdowns.
    

   3. Utility Module

Objective: Leverage the Utility Module and Engineering Utility Module in CUBE to account for customizations your organization may require, providing flexibility and supporting engineering-specific adjustments.

3.1 Overview of the Utility Module and When to Use It.

3.2 Overview of the Engineering Utility Module and When to Use It

 

   4. Application Notes & Tags

Objective: Learn how to use application notes and tags in CUBE to support clear naming, organize estimate data, and improve consistency across teams.

4.1 Understanding the Role of Application Notes in Naming Conventions

• Application notes help explain system names and purposes.
•  They provide clear details that make estimates easier to understand.
•  Using consistent notes across all estimates improves communication between estimating, engineering, and installation teams.

4.2 Understanding the Role of Tags

• Tags are used to group, sort, and filter parts of an estimate.
• They help organize large projects by type, phase, or location.
• Consistent tagging makes it easier to search, report, and manage estimate data.

4.3 Creating Application Notes and Using the Resource Center

• You can create custom application notes to match your company’s standards.
• The Resource Center includes templates you can reuse for faster setup.
• Standardizing notes helps ensure all team members follow the same format.

4.4 Using Tags for I/O Designation

• Tags can be used to label I/O points like AI, AO, DI, and DO.
• This helps engineering and programming teams quickly identify signal types.
• Using I/O tags improves coordination and supports better panel and wiring designs.

4.5 Establishing a Consistent Tagging Structure Across Teams

• Use a clear and simple tagging format that everyone can follow.
• Apply tags the same way across all departments to avoid confusion.
• Review and update your tagging approach as project needs evolve.

 

Practical Exercises

Participants will:

• Create a sample material entry with a set unit cost.
• Set up two labor classifications with custom rates and assigned hours.
• Add and apply a utility item to a live estimate.
• Use application notes and tags to improve estimate clarity and team coordination
  

 

Post-Session Action Items

To reinforce learning, participants should:

• Review and update material and labor setups in their own CUBE environment.
• Standardize commonly used utility items for consistent use across estimates.
• Create and apply a tagging structure to support filtering, reporting, and team collaboration.

Note: When scheduling, make sure to include this session code: CENG-02.

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