VALUE ENGINEERING IN CONSTRUCTION

VALUE ENGINEERING IS BASICALLY AN ORGANIZED APPROACH TO GET MORE FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT. AS OUTLINED IN THE ARMED SERVICES PROCUREMENT REGULATION, IT IS CONCERNED WITH THE ELIMINATION OR MODIFICATION OF ANYTHING THAT ADDS COST TO A PRODUCT BUT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ITS BASIC FUNCTION - THAT IS, PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, APPEARANCE, OR MAINTENANCE. THE OBJECTIVE OF VALUE ENGINEERING IS TO LOWER THE COST OF AN ITEM WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING PERFORMANCE. VALUE ENGINEERING WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED DURING WORLD WAR II, WHEN MATERIALS WERE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AND THE RESULTING SHORTAGES FORCED THE INTRODUCTION OF MANY SUBSTITUTES. THE FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND HAS A FULL-TIME STAFF ASSIGNED TO REVIEW DESIGNS IN ORDER TO FIND WAYS OF CUTTING TIME AND COST. CONTRACTORS ON FIXED-PRICE WORK ARE INVITED TO PROPOSE CHANGES IN PLANS THAT WILL RESULT IN ECONOMIES, AND THE CONTRACTORS REALIZES HALF THE SAVING ON ANY IDEAS THAT ARE ACCEPTED. INITIAL RESULTS IN THE APPLICATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAVE INDICATED THAT A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL DOES EXIST. THE DEGREE OF SUCCESS OF THIS CONCEPT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DEPENDS UPON THE ACCEPTANCE AND ACTIVE SUPPORT OF BOTH THE ENGINEERS AND THE CONTRACTORS.