Switchgear, Panelboards & Electrical Distribution worked example

Option Complexity Cost at 58% options realized into the build: a worked example in switchgear, panelboards & electrical distribution

Suppose options realized into the build falls to 58%. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Option Complexity Cost captures the engineering and BOM burden that each non-standard feature adds to a switchgear lineup or panelboard, from added metering and communications to custom bus ratings, surge devices, and special interlocks.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Number of engineered options added: 100 units (held at the documented default)
  • Engineering cost per option added: 45 $ / unit (held at the documented default)
  • Options realized into the build: 58 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 80)
  • Fixed complexity engineering overhead: 250 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Option Complexity Cost cost = quantity × rate × capture factor + fixed cost.
  • Weighted cost works out to 2,860 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Per piece value works out to 28.6 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Captured value works out to 2,610 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed adjustment works out to 250 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where options realized into the build sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 25.71% below the baseline at 2,860 $.
  • It computes total option complexity cost as options added times engineering cost per option times a realization factor, plus fixed complexity overhead, and returns a per-option cost. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.

Results at a glance

  • Weighted cost: 2,860 $ (headline result)
  • Per piece value: 28.6 $ / piece
  • Captured value: 2,610 $
  • Fixed adjustment: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Option Complexity Cost calculator, set options realized into the build to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.