Value Engineering vs Value Vandalism: Cutting Corners or Costs?

Value Engineering or Value Vandalism? We’ve all been there. “Let’s cut 20 % — but keep the full scope.” Value Engineering is meant to be smart: optimising design, reducing waste, and delivering the same function for less. But too often it becomes value vandalism — cutting corners and critical elements, dressed up as savings. The result? A project that looks cheaper on paper but costs more in rework, risk, and reputation. The question isn’t whether we can cut, but what we are really cutting — cost or future performance? How do you protect real value when the pressure to “save now” is strongest? #ConfessionsOfACostEstimator #ValueEngineering #ValueVandalism #FutureOfEstimating #ProjectControls #CutCostOrCutQuality

Value Engineering or Value Vandalism? We’ve all been there. “Let’s cut 20 % — but keep the full scope.” Value Engineering is meant to be smart: optimising design, reducing waste, and delivering the same function for less. But too often it becomes value vandalism — cutting corners and critical elements, dressed up as savings. The result? A project that looks cheaper on paper but costs more in rework, risk, and reputation. The question isn’t whether we can cut, but what we are really cutting — cost or future performance? How do you protect real value when the pressure to “save now” is strongest? #ConfessionsOfACostEstimator #ValueEngineering #ValueVandalism #FutureOfEstimating #ProjectControls #CutCostOrCutQuality

Ever delivered concrete that looked perfect… but got rejected on-site? That’s the difference between managing risks and firefighting issues. This simple visual shows: ✅ How to differentiate risks (potential problems) from issues (real problems). ✅ Practical examples from raw materials to customer delivery. ✅ Why proactive systems save you time, cost, and reputation. 💡 Spot risks early. Solve issues fast. Build better. ⸻ 🔖 #Concrete #Construction #QualityControl #RiskManagement #CivilEngineering #ProjectManagement #ReadyMixConcrete #LeanConstruction #ManufacturingExcellence

Lifecycle cost analysis is transforming the way construction stakeholders make investment decisions. Rather than focusing solely on initial construction costs, this approach considers the total cost of ownership, helping clients make choices that support long-term value, efficiency, and sustainability. Today, we’ll examine some key aspects of ensuring projects are not only cost-effective at the outset but also resilient and high-performing for years to come. Learn more about lifecycle cost analysis: https://lnkd.in/eCUjUKNZ #lifecyclecost #constructionlifecycle #lifecycleanalysis #costanalysis #dgjones #constructioncost #constructionproject #constructionmanagement

Jeff nailed it: Value Engineering works when it’s strategic, not reactive. That’s how Jeff Robertson and the Ascent Consulting, Inc. Team help construction companies reduce change orders, stay on schedule, and build owner trust. https://lnkd.in/engdYYs9

Last week, I sat down with a group of Technical Directors ... One line stuck with me: 👉 “We trust our site teams MC and SC. We specify the performance. They know how to get it done.” At first, it sounded right... Trust your people. Empower your teams. But then I thought… what happens when it comes to weatherproofing membranes? Here’s what I see, time and again 👇 ⚠️ The spec becomes a shopping list A project names XYZ Membrane. Great intent. But nothing about the system. ⚠️ The HOW gets left to chance Adhesive? Tapes? Lap sealing? Weather conditions? Often missing or vague. ⚠️ Value engineering turns into value erosion Skip the primer (“saves a day”), swap in a generic tape (“looks the same”)… ⚠️ The result: SYSTEM failure, not product failure The membrane works. The system doesn’t. And who gets blamed? The product. Every time. The data is painful 📊 📌 55% of new-build defects are envelope failures (NHBC Foundation) 📌 42% rise in façade-related defects since 2018 (BSG, 2022) 📌 UK façade packages = £2.6bn industry (AMA, 2023)… 👉 Even “small lapses” cost millions in remediation. 🚀 And here’s the truth… Its is not just the material...it is an integrated system. Think about it: ✅ The right primer for the substrate ✅ Certified tapes & accessories ✅ Installers who know the system inside-out ✅ Inspections + sign-offs at key stages That’s not micromanagement...That’s protecting your asset, your reputation, your legacy; Because nobody remembers the project that almost worked. 👉 Over to you: Have you ever seen a spec that looked great on paper… but failed in execution? #Waterproofing #BuildingEnvelope #Facade #UKConstruction #Specification #Effisus #archmaq #fails #buildingenvelope #Architecture #QualityControl #ConstructionManagement #BuildingPerformance

Value engineering is about finding smarter ways to deliver a project, reducing unnecessary spending while maintaining quality, function, and design integrity. In our latest blog, we explore: 🔹 What value engineering really means in construction 🔹 How it can reduce costs without compromising results 🔹 Practical examples of where it works best 🔹 The limitations you should be aware of Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eU8ahAmN #ValueEngineering #ConstructionProjects #QueensburyConstruction #ProjectDelivery #UKConstruction #CommercialFitOut

📊 Smart engineering isn’t just about building safely — it’s about building wisely. From reducing upfront material costs to minimizing long-term maintenance, strong design choices save clients money at every stage of a project. At A&A, we see engineering not as a cost, but as an investment in durability, efficiency, and value. #StructuralEngineering #SmartDesign #LongTermValue #AandAEngineering

You’d be surprised how often utilities are treated like they can just slot in neatly after the project is designed. We’ve been handed early drawings where the utilities feel like an afterthought, or someone’s based them off a completely different site. By the time we’re called in, it’s already messy with blocked routes because structures are in the way and makes timelines tight. That’s just what happens when planning skips a crucial but easy to look past step - utilities need a seat at the table early on. It just cuts out a lot of guesswork and backtracking.

📐 In matters #Measurements and #Costing, one of the first lessons we were taught still rings true today: 👉 Before you take off measurements from a drawing, you must first understand what you are measuring and see it in reality. This simple principle saves you from missing details, ensures accuracy, and gives confidence in your work. When you clearly grasp the element at hand, every line, curve, and dimension in the drawing begins to “speak” to you. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about understanding construction, design intent, and translating drawings into accurate costs and schedules. Clarity before calculation. Understanding before quantifying. That’s how we bring value. #QuantitySurveying #ConstructionManagement #AccuracyMatters #CostConsultancy #ProjectManagement #ConstructionIndustry