Value engineering in construction

by Derrick Corea Technosoft Innovations, Inc

The value engineering "value engineering" is a methodology to solve problems, identify and eliminate unnecessary costs of a product while improving functional and quality requirements. It is about increasing the value of the products to supply them at the lowest possible prices. Its goal is to meet the product's performance requirements and customer needs at the lowest possible cost. In a construction project this implies a careful study of the costs, the availability of the materials, the construction methods, the transport costs, the limitations or restrictions, the planning and organization of the work or the analyzes of costs / benefit.

The concepts used in value engineering are used, in one way or another, in the work carried out by the designers, be they architects or engineers. In fact, designers who do not consider the maximum economy in the selection and use of construction methods and materials, simply are not doing their job. The analysis of the value of a product, service or process is more effective when it is done in the initial stage, where it is possible to influence the design, reducing costs and improving its benefits. Some benefits that can be obtained are the reduction of the cost of the life cycle, the improvement of the quality, the reduction of the environmental impacts, etc.

However, it is the builder who can most take the value engineering. Thus, although the designer has decided the materials and construction procedures that can best adapt to the work after an analysis of the average market conditions, it is the builder who knows perfectly their equipment, human resources and conditions to face the work . In fact, in some public works tenders, the improvements that the bidder can provide in costs, in construction procedures, etc., are valued in a way that does not compromise the quality or functionality of the work.

The methodology of value engineering includes the following aspects:

Identify the main elements of a value engineering services.

Analyze the functions performed by the elements of the project.

Develop alternative designs to execute those functions.

Evaluate the alternatives.

Assign costs to the alternatives.

Develop promising alternatives.

The builder can apply this methodology in the improvement of construction procedures, which can bring significant reductions in project costs. This reduction in costs can benefit the developer of the work that, if it facilitates transparency and free competition among construction companies, can award the work to the one that presents the lowest costs.