VALUE
ENGINEERING
STUDIES
Construction, Manufacturing,
Service and Government
Value Engineering Studies and
Certification Workshop Programs
In today’s global marketplace, there is an increased demand
for more efficient and effective ways to satisfy customer
and stakeholder needs. Increasing competition, decreasing
revenues and resources, emerging technologies, government
regulations, and changing markets force businesses to
routinely reevaluate the functions they perform and reallocate
resources to survive. Organizations need a structured team
method to create new ways to satisfy requirements within
resource constraints and expedite consensus decisions
which are necessary to exploit changes as profitable
business opportunities. Value engineering provides the way.
Drexel University offers a value engineering certification
preparation course, customized applied value research
studies, and workshops for individuals and organizations
in private industry and government.
What is Value Engineering?
Value engineering is a systematic multidisciplinary team
method to improve the value of projects, products, processes,
facilities and infrastructure by analyzing and improving the
relationship between the cost and worth of their functions. Value
can be increased by improving the functions or reducing the
costs. The value engineering method was invented at General
Electric Company during World War II to find alternatives for
materials and parts that were unavailable, or only available
at inflated prices, because of rationing during the war.
Also called value analysis or value management, value
engineering evolved and has a wide range of application
possibilities today. The method is applied to analyze and
improve the return on investment from design and construction
projects, facility operations and maintenance, energy
conservation and sustainability initiatives, manufactured
products and production processes, business services and
administrative procedures, and software development projects.
Value engineering can be applied to challenge the status quo,
generate ideas, and create a plan to fulfill any need that can
be expressed in terms of functions and related costs.
Value engineering is applicable to both growth-oriented
and cost reduction initiatives. It is a powerful method for
improving financial performance and marketability of projects
selected for study.
Learn While Doing
Value Engineering courses at Drexel offer students the
opportunity to apply the method to “real life” projects that they
select from current business situations. This results in a high
return on investment potential for organizations that sponsor
value study projects and course participants. A typical value
study involves a multi-disciplined team with experience and
expertise relevant to the project selected for study. Depending
on the scope, complexity, budget and potential cost savings,
a team could study a complete project, product, process,
service, or a section of it.
Increase Your Professional Value
Students who successfully complete the value engineering
course and pass SAVE International’s Value Methodology
Associate Exam (formerly Associate Value Specialist exam)
offered at the end of the course become certified as a Value
Methodology Associate. The Value Methodology Associate
certification recognizes recipients who completed a SAVE
International approved basic training workshop and acquired
fundamental knowledge in value engineering and value
enhancing techniques. It also recognizes the recipient’s
ability to participate in and help facilitate value engineering
workshops. Achieving the certification demonstrates that the
recipients have a mindset and a method for making money,
saving money, and conserving precious resources.
Value Engineering Curriculum
The Value Engineering courses and workshops are offered in
a variety of formats including on-campus, online, and at the
organization’s site.
The program begins with an orientation that introduces
all participants to the value engineering method. Participants
are then required to apply the methodology to a “live” project
that they select. The value study team leader facilitates by
ensuring that the team follows the six-phase value engineering
method job plan.
Continued on reverse >>
drexel.edu/cmgt
Value Engineering
Job Plan Phases
Phase 1: Information Gathering
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Define the problem.
Collect data.
Select operation, product, service,
facility, property, or project for study.
Conduct customer attitude survey.
Create cost model.
Meet the Instructor
Richard W. Sievert, Jr., Ph.D., is the director and lead facilitator of the
Value Engineering Studies and Workshop Programs. He is a recognized
expert in value engineering and is a full-time member of the faculty in
the College of Engineering at Drexel University.
As long-time president of The Sievert Group, Rick has extensive
experience in value engineering, product design and manufacturing,
facilities planning and design, operations analysis, project management,
and construction management.
Rick holds a doctorate in engineering specializing in
project management from Northwestern University.
Pertinent certifications include: CVS-Life (Certified
Value Specialist for Life), PMP (Certified Project
Management Professional), CCP (Certified Cost
Professional), and CFM (Certified Facility Manager).
Phase 2: Function Analysis
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n
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Identify and classify functions.
Prepare a FAST diagram.
Allocate costs to functions.
Apply Pareto’s Law of Distribution.
Identify value mismatches.
Select high-cost functions for
value improvement.
Contact
For more information, please contact Rick Sievert, Ph.D.
Phase 3: Creativity
Email:rsievert@drexel.edu
n Apply team dynamics.
n Generate alternative solutions.
n Conduct brainstorming session.
Mail: Phase 4: Evaluation
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Evaluate ideas.
Evaluate the functions.
Estimate cost of alternative solutions.
Apply life-cycle cost analysis and
other evaluation techniques.
Phase 5: Development
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Refine ideas.
Develop the best alternatives.
Develop proposals for consideration
by management.
Phase 6: Presentation
n Prepare a presentation.
n Present recommendations for
consideration by management.
drexel.edu/cmgt
Drexel University
College of Engineering Construction Management
3141 Chestnut Street, CAT 170
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Praise from Satisfied Customers
“Implementing the value methodology as standard practice improved
overall competitiveness, performance and customer satisfaction of our
division in a team-based environment.”
“The whole process generated ideas that resulted in savings close to $3-1/2
million plus higher value products that significantly increased sales. We had
no idea what a powerful tool Value Engineering could be when we started.”
Testimonial from Former Student
“I just wanted to thank you for all that you’ve taught me. The class I took
was probably one of the best classes and most important I’ve ever taken.
Every day, I am involved in value engineering, whether it is for managing
a project or business development for my company.”