investment planning

CAPEX Quick Assessment
: Clarity
for manufacturing projects

Structure investment positions, simulate payment plans, analyze spending curves, and evaluate exit scenarios—all in one tool.

analyses

capital expenditure

focus

0 €

Free of charge

capital expenditure

Step 1

Project information

Basic data on the manufacturing project: location, volume, time frame, and financial figures.

project name

Plant / Location

Product / Component

Volume (units/year)

Project start (year)

Project end (year)

currency

Space costs (EUR/m²)

Construction costs per square meter

Cost of capital (%/year)

WACC or internal rate of return

Simulated "today" (year)

For sunk cost calculation

Step 2

Investment items (TEUR)

Record all investment categories: machinery, space, tooling, automation, and start-up costs.

Category	Machines	Area (m²)	Area (thousand euros)	Facilities	Tooling	automation	start	Total USD thousand

Step 3

Payment schedule (supplier terms)

Define the payment milestones per category.

3-phase model: Order (down payment, year 0) → FAT (+1 year) → SAT/acceptance (+2 years). The percentages must add up to 100%.

Category	% Order (Year 0)	% FAT (+1 year)	% SAT/decrease (+2 years)	total

Step 4

Investment Summary

Overview of total investment, area, and capital costs.

Investment distribution by category

Investment structure (cost types)

Step 5

Spending Curve & Sunk Cost Analysis

Cash outflow over the project term with different commitment profiles.

Commitment distribution A

Comparison profile B

Cash outflow per year (TEUR)

Cumulative cash outflow (TEUR)

Step 6

Termination scenario: Exit exposure

What happens financially if the project is canceled?

This tool shows three positions: Already paid (irretrievable), Open supplier liabilities (ordered but not yet paid), and Return from customer (proportional refund).

Termination in year

Customer recovery (%)

Percentage reimbursed by the customer

Commitment profile

Exposure profile: Net risk (TEUR)

Cash flow upon termination (TEUR)

Background

What is a CAPEX Quick Assessment?

A CAPEX Quick Assessment gives you a structured overview of the financial dimension of a manufacturing project within minutes. Instead of unstructured Excel spreadsheets, you receive a clear list of all investment items, a realistic payment plan, and a risk analysis in case the project is terminated.

investment structure

Machines, space, facilities, tooling, automation, and start-up costs: all items at a glance, with automatic space cost calculation.

payment schedule

The 3-phase model (order, FAT, SAT) reflects real supplier conditions and shows when cash actually flows out.

Spending curve

Compare front-loaded, linear, back-loaded, and S-curve profiles to optimize capital costs.

Exit exposure

What does it cost to cancel a project? View amounts already paid, outstanding liabilities, and potential customer recovery.

Frequently asked questions

FAQs about CAPEX Assessment

For which projects is the tool suitable?

The CAPEX Quick Assessment is ideal for manufacturing projects involving machine investments, hall construction, tooling, and automation costs. It is particularly suitable for project managers and controllers who need a quick overview of the financial dimensions of a project.

What does "sunk cost" mean in context?

Sunk costs are expenses that have already been incurred and cannot be reversed. The tool shows how much capital is already irretrievably tied up at a given point in time: crucial information for go/no-go decisions.

Will my data be stored or transferred?

No. All calculations are performed entirely in the browser. No data is transferred to a server. Your investment data remains private.

What is the difference between the commitment profiles?

Front-loaded: Main part of orders at the start of the project. Linear: Evenly distributed. Back-loaded: Main part later. S-curve: Slow start, steep middle, flat end. Each profile affects capital costs and flexibility differently.

Nico Roepnack

20+ years of experience in manufacturing operations. Practical experience in CAPEX planning, project management, and investment controlling.

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FEW Automotive is currently managing over 200 projects across 30 locations.

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