Value Engineering

The information phase is when we determine the definition of ‘value’ for your project. We can then write the objectives and key criteria for your construction project. 

The first step of this value engineering process is understanding the development of the design so far. 

The essential functions of the project’s systems will form the main outline for your value engineering strategy. 

By analysing these functions, we can identify where there are varying options and interpretations. This enables us to consider how costs and effects are linked to the necessary functions and which relationships increase value.

In the speculation stage, also known as the creative phase, we brainstorm how to provide the necessary functions at a lower cost. 

We use a team approach for this stage and produce as many ideas as we can, all to be reviewed during strategy creation. Most of these ideas stem from the functional analysis carried out in the previous stage.

Value Engineering promotes an organised effort to find more efficient alternatives throughout each construction phase. It’s a time when we evaluate the different ideas from the speculation phase. 

But first, we need to define the criteria to be used in the evaluation. To do so, we perform a weighted matrix analysis to find the ideas with the greatest potential for reducing costs and improving performance. 

When we know that we’ve struck a good idea when the advantages outweigh the drawbacks - we’ll continue our exploration accordingly.

In the development stage, we dig deeper and start to expand the finer details of each idea with alternative solutions. We also write a description of any design changes and an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages proposed. 

We list redesign costs, LCC calculations, sketches and a comparison of the new design against the original method. In short, we prove why the new process is more efficient.

The final stage ties everything together in a written report. Usually, our team will present to the client and design team, where we explain the reasons behind our proposals and a summary of cost estimates. 

The presentation production process reaffirms the monetary value of VE and forces the project to define “value” and “function”. The process develops and prioritises project objectives and provides useful feedback on the initial designs.