Value Analysis free essay sample

The value of a product will be interpreted in different ways by different customers. Value is subjective. Just as beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, value is highly dependent upon perspective. Frequently, the analyst will discover that the different perspectives will lead to conflicting definitions of value. But usually its common characteristic is a high level of performance, capability, emotional appeal, style, etc. relative to its cost. This can also be expressed as maximizing the function of a product relative to its cost: Value = (Performance + Capability)/Cost = Function/Cost Value is not a matter of minimizing cost. In some cases the value of a product can be increased by increasing its function (performance or capability) and cost as long as the added function increases more than its added cost. The concept of functional worth can be important. Functional worth is the lowest cost to provide a given function. However, there are less tangible selling functions involved in a product to make it of value to a customer. INTRODUCTION TO VALUE ANALYSIS Lawrence Miles conceived of Value Analysis (VA) in the 1945 based on the application of function analysis to the component parts of a product. The technique simultaneously pursues two complimentary objectives: †¢Maximizing the utility provided by the product or service †¢Minimizing or eliminating waste. The analysts goal is to eliminate as much of the non-value-added elements as possible by reengineering the design of the product or process. Equally important, the analyst also considers the possibility of substituting functionally equivalent elements for the value-added elements of the product or process design. In the latter case, a substitution is justified when the functionality of the element is maintained or enhanced at a reduced cost to the producer. Value analysis may be applied to the design and redesign of products, services, and processes Component cost reduction was an effective and popular way to improve value when direct labor and material cost determined the success of a product. The value analysis technique supported cost reduction activities by relating the cost of components to their function contributions. Value analysis defines a basic function as anything that makes the product work or sell. A function that is defined as basic cannot change. Secondary functions, also called supporting functions, described the manner in which the basic function(s) were implemented. Secondary functions could be modified or eliminated to reduce product cost. Finally, design changes may be proposed to eliminate, reduce, or replace elements that fail to add sufficient value to the overall product or process. As VA progressed to larger and more complex products and systems, emphasis shifted to upstream product development activities where VA can be more effectively applied to a product before it reaches the production phase. However, as products have become more complex and sophisticated, the technique needed to be adapted to the systems approach that is involved in many products today. As a result, value analysis evolved into the Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) VALUE ANALYSIS METHOD: Identifying the function in the broadest possible terms provides the greatest potential for divergent thinking because it gives the greatest freedom for creatively developing alternatives. A function should be identified as to what is to be accomplished by a solution and not how it is to be accomplished. How the function is identified determines the scope, or range of solutions that can be considered. That functions designated as basic represent the operative function of the item or product and must be maintained and protected. Determining the basic function of single components can be relatively simple. By definition then, functions designated as basic will not change, but the way those functions are implemented is open to innovative speculation. As important as the basic function is to the success of any product, the cost to perform that function is inversely proportional to its importance. This is not an absolute rule, but rather an observation of the consumer products market. Few people purchase consumer products based on performance or the lowest cost of basic functions alone. When purchasing a product it is assumed that the basic function is operative. The customers attention is then directed to those visible secondary support functions, or product features, which determine the worth of the product. From a product design point of view, products that are perceived to have high value first address the basic functions performance and stress the achievement of all of the performance attributes. Once the basic functions are satisfied, the designers then address the secondary functions necessary to attract customers. Secondary functions are incorporated in the product as features to support and enhance the basic function and help sell the product. The elimination of secondary functions that are not very important to the customer will reduce product cost and increase value without detracting from the worth of the product. The cost contribution of the basic function does not, by itself, establish the value of the product. Few products are sold on the basis of their basic function alone. If this were so, the market for no name brands would be more popular than it is today. Although the cost contribution of the basic function is relatively small, its loss will cause the loss of the market value of the product. One objective of value analysis or function analysis, to improve value by reducing the cost-function relationship of a product, is achieved by eliminating or combining as many secondary functions as possible. VALUE ANALYSIS PROCESS The first step in the value analysis process is to define the problem and its scope. Once this is done, the functions of the product and its items are derived. These functions are classified into basic and secondary functions. A Cost Function Matrix or Value Analysis Matrix is prepared to identify the cost of providing each function by associating the function with a mechanism or component part of a product. Product functions with a high cost-function ratio are identified as opportunities for further investigation and improvement. Improvement opportunities are then brainstormed, analyzed, and selected. FUCTION COST MATRIX APPROACH: The objective of the Function Cost Matrix approach is to draw the attention of the analysts away from the cost of components and focus their attention on the cost contribution of the functions. The Function Cost Matrix displays the components of the product, and the cost of those components, along the left vertical side of the graph. The top horizontal legend contains the functions performed by those components. Each component is then examined to determine how many functions that component performs, and the cost contributions of those functions. Detailed cost estimates become more important following function analysis, when evaluating value improvement proposals. The total cost and percent contribution of the functions of the item under study will guide the team, or analyst, in selecting which functions to select for value improvement analysis. VALUE ANALYSIS MATRIX: A variation of the Function-Cost Matrix is the Value Analysis Matrix. This matrix was derived from the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology. It is more powerful in two ways. First, it associates functions back to customer needs or requirements. In doing this, it carries forward an importance rating to associate with these functions based on the original customer needs or requirements. Functions are then related to mechanisms, the same as with the Function-Cost Matrix. Mechanisms are related to functions as either strongly, moderately or weakly supporting the given function. This relationship is noted with the standard QFD relationship symbols. The associated weighting factor is multiplied by customer or function importance and each columns value is added. These totals are normalized to calculate each mechanisms relative weight in satisfying the designated functions. This is where the second difference with the Function-Cost Matrix arises. This mechanism weight can then be used as the basis to allocate the overall item or product cost. The mechanism target costs can be compared with the actual or estimated costs to see where costs are out of line with the value of that mechanism as derived from customer requirements and function analysis FUNCTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM TECHNIQUE Function Analysis System Technique is an evolution of the value analysis process created by Charles Bytheway. FAST permits people with different technical backgrounds to effectively communicate and resolve issues that require multi-disciplined considerations. FAST builds upon VA by linking the simply expressed, verb-noun functions to describe complex systems. FAST is not an end product or result, but rather a beginning. It describes the item or system under study and causes the team to think through the functions that the item or system performs, forming the basis for a wide variety of subsequent approaches and analysis techniques. FAST contributes significantly to perhaps the most important phase of value engineering: function analysis. FAST is a creative stimulus to explore innovative avenues for performing functions. Bytheways set of original questions for FAST includes the following: 1. What subject or problem would you like to address? 2. What are you really trying to do when you? 3. What higher level function has caused to come into being? 4. Why is it necessary to? 5. How is actually accomplished or how is it proposed to be accomplished? 6. Does the method selected to cause any supporting functions to come into being? 7. If you did not have to perform, would you still have to perform the other supporting functions? 8. When you, do apparent dependent functions come into existence as a result of the current design? 9. What or who actually? The FAST diagram or model is an excellent communications vehicle. Using the verb-noun rules in function analysis creates a common language, crossing all disciplines and technologies. It allows multi-disciplined team members to contribute equally and communicate with one another while addressing the problem objectively without bias or preconceived conclusions. With FAST, there is no right or wrong model or result. The problem should be structured until the product development team members are satisfied that the real problem is identified. After agreeing on the problem statement, the single most important output of the multi-disciplined team engaged in developing a FAST model is consensus. Since the team has been charged with the responsibility of resolving the assigned problem, it is their interpretation of the FAST model that reflects the problem statement thats important. The team members must discuss and reconfigure the FAST model until consensus is reached and all participating team members are satisfied that their concerns re expressed in the model. Once consensus has been achieved, the FAST model is complete and the team can move on to the next creative phase. A system exists because functions form dependency links with other functions, just as components form a dependency link with other components to make the system work. The importance of the FAST approach is that it graphically displays function dependencies and creates a process to study function links while exploring options to develop improved systems. There are normally two types of FAST diagrams, the technical FAST diagram and the customer FAST diagram. A technical FAST diagram is used to understand the technical aspects of a specific portion of a total product. A customer FAST diagram focuses on the aspects of a product that the customer cares about and does not delve into the technicalities, mechanics or physics of the product. A customer FAST diagram is usually applied to a total product. VALUE ADDED ASSESSMENT: The function of each design element is then reviewed against the operational definition of value to determine whether and how it contributes to the worth of the product or process. Although each situation is unique, several functions are commonly considered to be non-value-added. The following list is a small sample of highly suspect verbs: †¢Administration: allocates, assigns, records, requests, or selects. †¢Waiting or delay: files, sets up, stages, updates, or awaits. †¢Motion or transportation: collates, collects, copies, delivers, distributes, issues, loads, moves, or receives. †¢Oversight or control: approves, expedites, identifies, inspects labels, maintains, measures, monitors, reviews, or verifies. †¢Rework or repair: adjusts, changes, reconciles, repairs, returns, revises, or cancels However, identifying non-value-added design elements is only one aspect of the value assessment. The value-added elements should also be appraised. For example, assume that our evaluation has determined that the function of a bolt is to attach-component. Our initial analysis reveals that this is a secondary function that supports the overall operation of our product and is therefore value-added. However, during the information-gathering phase of our analysis we discovered that several warranty claims can be traced to the failure of this bolt. Based upon this information we should then consider whether a substitute component might provide a higher level of value. In this situation we might consider a bigger, stronger bolt. If the revised design leads to fewer failures, our customers might experience fewer field failures. In addition, even though the new component presumably costs more than the original, we may find the overall product profitability improved if the reduced warranty claims offset the higher production costs. We might also choose to extend our analysis to consider other functionally equivalent components to the original bolt. Returning to our example, the function of the bolt was to attach-component. Several other design elements might perform the same fastening function at either a reduced cost or improved performance level. A more complete analysis might consider substituting a screw, a rivet, adhesive, or even a weld for the troublesome bolt. Each potential substitution has its own implications for production costs and stakeholder satisfaction. VALUE ANALYSIS AND DESIGN PROCESS The analysis of value is intrinsic to the design process. Design professionals evaluate materials and systems as part of the process of responding to the clients needs. The resultant design is really a series of recommendations to the client that address constructability, program requirements, and life-cycle costs including operational and maintenance expenses. Generating alternatives to produce the greatest worth for the client often takes skill sets beyond those of design professionals. A team approach can best incorporate the expertise of value and constructability consultants into any analysis that the designers of record provide. Used properly, value analysis can increase the return on investment and create greater overall project value for the client. Assessing Functional Alternatives The basis of value analysis is an organized effort focused on achieving the lowest life-cycle costs consistent with required performance, reliability, quality, and aesthetics. This organized effort should acknowledge that the design teams participation will result in additional time and liability exposures, and the professional service fee should be increased accordingly. Usually, the best results are achieved when value analysis begins early in the design process. Beginning at the schematic design development phase, initial and long-term expenses as well as construction costs can decrease through use of more cost-efficient materials and reduction in construction time, increasing the clients profitable use of the facility. Avoiding the Cost-Cutting Mentality Mere cost cutting is not true value analysis. Cost cutting that results in a loss of quality and functionality does not qualify as the systematic identification of a components true function. And this does not provide a components essential function at the lowest overall cost. Most value analysis ideas involve some compromise on quality, but performance, quality, and cost must be weighed against each other before agreeing on changes. If the solution is developed early enough in the design process, the overall benefit to the client will be greater. Achieving True Benefits Reducing project construction costs, improving project schedules, and decreasing operational and maintenance costs can be a significant challenge. The first step in meeting that challenge is to make sure the client has a well-prepared budget and a clear program. Then the value analysis process, conducted early in the design phase, can have positive results. Gaps in the clients program or insufficient funding can lead to significant problems during construction if not addressed up front. Value analysis should not be a one-time effort, however. The design team must review and evaluate each proposal on the basis of project goals, technical considerations, implementation consequences, and both initial operations and life-cycle cost savings. The design team also is responsible for defending quality to the client and explaining the downside of any value analysis ideas. A client must be able to express informed consent when deciding on design team recommendations. All stakeholders in a construction project must understand the procedures and timing of value analysis if the process is to achieve a true benefit rather than illusory savings to the client. Value analysis is an important analysis tools. This methodology leads to improved product designs and lower costs by: †¢Providing a method of communication within a product development team and achieving team consensus †¢Facilitating flexibility in thinking and exploring multiple concepts †¢Focusing on essential functions to fulfill product requirements †¢Identifying high cost functions to explore improvements As organizations across the globe leverage mobile solutions to extend beyond their initial use for mobile email, significant opportunities for strategic differentiation begin to materialize along with tremendous quantitative and qualitative benefits. Such benefits bring exceptional value not only to the intended mobile user base but also to a larger set of workers across the organization in the form of streamlined workflow and improved business processes. SAP America created and deployed an extension of its mySAP Customer Relationship Management (mySAP CRM) application to its mobile sales force on their BlackBerry devices. This undertaking yielded the following results: An initial deployment of a Web-based portal provided the necessary gateway between desktop and the mobile application for many users. The visibility and usage of the portal allowed for a better overall understanding of business processes and ultimately contributed o increased adoption of the subsequent mobile application. The plan to use the SAP xApp Mobile Sales composite application on BlackBerry sought to present a My Opportunities view and enable updating of customer and company contact information, viewing and modifying of in-process opportunities, changing status and close date, adding members to a virtual account team, viewing an opportunitys internal order number, and providing revenue modification at the line-item level. The SAP team completed a rapid deployment and delivery cycle that brought mobile CRM to nearly 100% adoption in six months. An initial phase of deployment had yielded little adoption by the sales force due to slow performance and unwieldy security policies. Additional enhancements, such as single sign-on features and improved ease of use, significantly increased user adoption. Key hurdles to overcome included heavy reliance upon support staff, combined with inefficient communication and workflow mechanisms among account executives, managers, and virtual account teams.