Value Engineering

Definition

Value engineering is a systematic and organized approach to providing the necessary functions at the lowest cost. It is a powerful tool used to analyze the functions of systems, equipment, facilities, services, and supplies to achieve the essential functions at the optimum total cost.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Value engineering focuses on maximizing the value of a product or service by identifying and eliminating unnecessary costs while maintaining the required functions.
2. The value engineering process typically involves five phases: information, function analysis, creative, evaluation, and implementation.
3. Value engineering can be applied to various stages of a product or service's life cycle, including design, manufacturing, and operations.
4. Effective value engineering requires a multidisciplinary team approach, bringing together experts from different fields to provide diverse perspectives.
5. Value engineering has been shown to result in significant cost savings, often ranging from 20% to 60% of the initial project cost.

Review Questions

• Explain how value engineering can be used to develop a standard cost.
  • Value engineering is a crucial tool in developing standard costs. By systematically analyzing the functions of a product or service and identifying opportunities to optimize costs, value engineering can help establish realistic and achievable standard costs. The function analysis phase of value engineering, for example, allows for a deep understanding of the essential functions required, which can then be used to determine the appropriate level of resources and costs needed to meet those functions. Additionally, the cost-benefit analysis and life cycle costing techniques employed in value engineering can provide valuable insights into the true, long-term costs of a product or service, informing the development of accurate standard costs.
• Describe how the value engineering process can contribute to the rationale for why a standard cost is developed.
  • The value engineering process provides a structured framework for understanding and justifying the development of a standard cost. By thoroughly analyzing the functions of a product or service, value engineering helps identify the essential elements that must be included in the standard cost. The creative phase of value engineering, where alternative solutions are generated, can also shed light on the reasoning behind the chosen standard cost approach. Furthermore, the evaluation and implementation phases of value engineering ensure that the standard cost is optimized to provide the necessary functions at the lowest overall cost, strengthening the rationale for its development. The comprehensive nature of the value engineering methodology, with its focus on maximizing value and minimizing unnecessary costs, directly supports the logic behind establishing a standard cost.
• Evaluate how the principles of value engineering can be applied to the process of determining a standard cost, and the potential benefits of this approach.
  • Applying the principles of value engineering to the process of determining a standard cost can yield significant benefits. By systematically analyzing the functions required and identifying opportunities to optimize costs, value engineering can help establish standard costs that are both realistic and achievable. The function analysis phase, for example, ensures that the standard cost includes only the essential elements needed to meet the required functions, eliminating unnecessary expenses. The cost-benefit analysis and life cycle costing techniques employed in value engineering can also provide a more comprehensive understanding of the true costs associated with a product or service, leading to more accurate standard cost development. Furthermore, the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach of value engineering can bring diverse perspectives to the standard cost determination process, enhancing the overall quality and validity of the final standard. Ultimately, integrating value engineering principles into standard cost development can result in more efficient resource allocation, improved cost control, and increased confidence in the rationale behind the established standard costs.

Related terms

Function Analysis: The process of identifying and understanding the essential functions of a product or service, which is a key step in value engineering.

Cost-Benefit Analysis:

A technique used in value engineering to evaluate alternative solutions by comparing the costs and benefits of each option.

Life Cycle Costing: A method of evaluating the total cost of ownership over the entire life of a product or service, which is important in value engineering.