The technical feasibility study assesses how a product or service will be delivered by examining materials, labor, transportation, location, and technology needs. It answers questions about availability and costs of raw materials, equipment, distribution, facilities, utilities, and labor. The chapter outlines preparing a technical feasibility study, including sections on materials and supplies, location, engineering and technology, and human resources. It provides examples of assessing raw material sources and costs, site selection, technology description and costs, equipment specifications, and estimating labor requirements and costs.
2. Technical Feasibility Study
What is a technical feasibility study ?
The Technical Feasibility Study assesses the details of how
you will deliver a product or service (i.e., materials, labor,
transportation, where your business will be located,
technology needed, etc.).
Think of the technical feasibility study as the logistical or
tactical plan of how your business will produce, store, deliver,
and track its products or services.
3. Technical Feasibility Study
Preparing an Outline for Writing Technical Feasibility Study
Materials and Supplies
Location, Site and Environment
Engineering and Technology
Human Resources
4. Technical Feasibility Study answers the following questions
Are enough raw materials available of the correct quality
when needed for year-round production?
Is the cost of the raw materials satisfactory?
Is the correct size and type of equipment available for the
expected production level and at a reasonable cost?
Are maintenance and repair costs affordable?
5. Technical Feasibility Study answers the following questions
Are distribution procedures to retailers or other sellers
established?
Is a suitable building available and what modifications are
needed?
Are services (fuel, water, electricity etc.) available?
Are trained workers available and are their salaries
affordable?
6. Row material and Supplies
1. Characteristics of raw materials and factory supplies
Specify list sources of materials and inputs, classified into
raw materials,
Processed industrial materials, components, auxiliary
materials, factory supplies and utilities)
2. Supply program, you have to study the following:
Specify list sources of materials and inputs, classified into raw
materials,
7. 1. Material inputs (approximate input requirements, their
present and potential supply positions, and a rough
estimate of annual costs of local and foreign material
inputs):
Raw materials
Processed industrial materials
Components
Factory supplies (Auxiliary materials, utilities (especially
power and energy requirements)
Row material and Supplies
8. Row material and Supplies
Supply program:
Quantitative supply program, seasonal variations, subdivided into
a program for the entire plant, project components, and cost centers
Development of supplies, seasonal restrictions
Possible substitutes
Organization of supplies (purchase, transport etc.)
Prices
Annual cost of supplies, seasonal variations
Inventory of materials and inputs in terms of quantities and
seasonal
variations, as well as book and market value of inventories
9. Location, site and environment, includes the following
re-selection, including, if appropriate, an estimate of the cost
of land
Preliminary environmental impact assessment
Location, site and environment:
Location
Describe the location of the plant and show it on appropriate maps
Give country, district, town
Show connections to existing infrastructure (traffic, electricity,
water, population etc.)
Describe socio-economic environment, nearness to market etc.
10. Location, site and environment:
Site
State town, street, number
Show situation and size on geodetic maps
Existing rights of way, easements etc.
Value of land
Annual costs of rights of way, rents, taxes, payments to neighbors
etc.
Local conditions and environment
Describe impacts of project on population, infrastructure,
landscape, etc.
Evaluate the tendency of impacts (positive or negative)
Assessment of environmental impacts, public and corporate
policies, conflicts, costs and environmental forecast
11. Technology and equipment, includes the following:
A. Technologies and processes that can be adopted,
B. Technology description and forecast
C. Environmental impacts of technologies
D. Rough estimate of costs of local and foreign technology
E. Rough layout of proposed equipment (major components):
E.1. Production equipment
E.2. Auxiliary equipment
E.3. Service equipment
E.4. Spare parts, wear and tear parts, tools
Rough estimate of investment cost of equipment
classified as above.
Engineering and Technology
12. Engineering and Technology
Production programme
Production programme of products and by-products: quality
specifications, quantities produced, time schedule of production
(seasonal variations),
percentage of spoilage and waste
Plant capacity
Installed nominal maximum capacity
Feasible nominal plant capacity of entire plant, main
departments, major equipment units
Plant layouts and charts (show existing structure of plant on
physical layouts and on functional charts and layouts)
Scope of enterprise (show scope of enterprise on layout
drawings, and divide it into project components and cost centres)
13. Engineering and Technology
Technology
List and describe technologies used, historic development
Sources of technology
Type of acquisition: licensing, purchase, joint venture
Experiences (positive or negative)
Technology forecast
Annual costs of technologies (royalties, fixed payments)
14. Engineering and Technology
Equipment:
List and specify equipment, classify into production, auxiliary
and service equipment
Show equipment on plant layouts
Describe sources, age, type (automatic, semi-automatic etc.)
State capacity, condition (up-to-date, obsolete etc.)
Value of installed equipment
Annual depreciation and repair costs
Estimated life and replacement costs
15. Civil engineering works, includes the following:
A. Rough layout of civil engineering works,
B. Arrangement of buildings,
C. Short description of construction materials to be used,
D. Site preparation and development
E. Buildings and special civil works
F. Outdoor works
Rough estimate of investment cost of civil engineering works (local
and foreign), classified as above.
Engineering and Technology
16. Estimated human resource requirements
Estimated annual human resource costs
Human resources:
Labor
List and describe labour force
Describe skill and availability
State annual cost of labour at nominal feasible capacity, subdivide
into production labour (variable) and non-production labour (fixed)
Staff
List and describe staff, show structure on manning tables
State annual staff cost
17. Capital expenditures (CAPEX)
Capital expenditures (CAPEX) are expenditures
creating future benefits. A capital expenditure is
incurred when a business spends money either to buy
fixed assets or to add to the value of an existing fixed
asset with a useful life extending beyond the taxable
year.
Capital expenditures (CAPEX) are expenditures
creating future benefits. A capital expenditure is
incurred when a business spends money either to buy
fixed assets or to add to the value of an existing fixed
asset with a useful life extending beyond the taxable
year.
Costs
18. Capital expenditures include:
acquiring fixed, and in some cases, intangible assets
repairing an existing asset so as to improve its useful life
upgrading an existing asset
preparing an asset to be used in business
starting or acquiring a new business
19. Operational expenditures (OPEX)
Operational expenditure (OPEX) OPEX is an
ongoing cost for running a product, business, or
system.
Operational expenditure (OPEX) OPEX is an
ongoing cost for running a product, business, or
system.
20. Operational expenditures include:
License fees
maintenance and repairs
advertising
office expenses
Supplies
legal fees
utilities, such as telephone
Insurance
property taxes
travel and vehicle expenses