Wire Harness, Cable & Electromechanical Assembly worked example

Cable Scrap Cost at 99% unrecoverable share: a worked example

This scenario runs the cable scrap cost calculation on the strong side: 99% unrecoverable share, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when high cut-off and setup waste is eroding margin and you need to quantify the dollar impact of cable scrap.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Scrapped Cable Length: 800 ft (unchanged)
  • Cable Cost per Foot: 0.55 $/ft (unchanged)
  • Unrecoverable Share: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 90)
  • Disposal and Handling Charge: 40 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total = scrapped cable length x cable cost per foot x unrecoverable share% + disposal and handling charge) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 476 $ for total cable scrap cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.59 $ / piece for cable scrap cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 436 $ for variable cable scrap cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 40 $ for fixed cable scrap cost adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where unrecoverable share sits at 90% and the headline result is 436 $, this scenario comes in 9.08% above the baseline at 476 $.
  • Use it to quantify scrap loss on a job, justify cut-plan or setup improvements, or set the waste allowance in a harness quote. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total cable scrap cost: 476 $ (headline result)
  • Cable scrap cost per unit: 0.59 $ / piece
  • Variable cable scrap cost: 436 $
  • Fixed cable scrap cost adder: 40 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Cable Scrap Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.