This document provides an overview of value engineering (VE), including its history, key concepts, methodology, and applications. It can be summarized as follows:
1. VE was developed in the 1940s at GE by Larry Miles as a systematic approach to reducing costs and increasing value through function-based analysis. It has since been widely adopted to improve design, processes, and projects.
2. VE follows a methodology involving defining the functions of a product/process, establishing their costs, and generating alternatives to deliver the necessary functions at lower life cycle cost while maintaining performance.
3. VE uses techniques like function analysis, idea generation, and evaluation to identify opportunities to reduce costs without compromising quality or usefulness. Its