Value Analysis and Value Engineering
Value Analysis and Value Engineering
Mr. Lawrence D. Miles of General Electric Company was assigned the task
of "finding, negotiating for and getting” a number of vital materials that
were in short supply. Invariably suppliers declined to supply. In this
desperate situation, Miles was forced to basics. Whenever he was faced
with serious shortages, he aimed at getting the product functions met by
some alternate means. Repeatedly there was a way to do it. Miles often
found that many of the substitutes used were providing equal or better
performance at less cost. The function approach proved to be effective. With
active support of his superiors Miles developed and refined the technique
that he called as “Value Analysis” (VA).
Based upon the success experienced by General Electric, the concept soon
spread throughout private industry because of its ability to yield a large
return for a relatively modest investment.
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VALUE ENGINEERING
THE WORLD SCENARIO
VE IN USA
1947 General Electric ‘Asbestos Affair’
1954 Department of Defence
1959 “Save” Established
1990’s Most organised sectors practising
VE IN JAPAN
1955 JPC sent troop to USA to search “Cost Control’
1959 VA Program started
1965 “SJVE” established
1973 Boost to VE during ‘Oil Crisis’
1990’s Practically all organised sectors practising
VE IN INDIA
∗ No organised effort
1965 VE Directorate
1979 “INVEST” established
∗ Few organisations following in low key
∗ Need of the hour
APPLICATIONS OF VE
∗ Automobile Industry.
∗ Heavy Electric Equipment Industries
∗ Ship Builders
∗ Railways & Heavy Vehicles Mfr.
∗ Electrical & Communication Machinery Mfr.
∗ Fabrication Industries
∗ Process Industries
∗ Metal, Fibre, Food, Chemical & Steel
∗ Architectural & Construction Firms and also
∗ All Service Sectors
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DEFINITION
VALUE ENGINEERING :
VE is an analytical, Step-wise, organised, creative team-approach designed
to examine all the facets of cost & functions of a PRODUCT/EQUIPMENT/
SYSTEM to identify and eliminate unnecessary costs which are incurred in:
non-essential USE
“ QUALITY
“ APPEARANCE
“ LIFE/RELIABILITY
“ CUSTOMER FEATURE
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PRINCIPLES OF VE
∗ ‘User-First’ Attitude
∗ Functional Approach
∗ Team Approach
∗ Creative Approach
Poor value creeps into almost any product or a system, however well
designed, during design and development. Alternatively, later in
manufacture, distribution or use. There are many causes of such poor value:
1. Lack of information
2. Decisions based on wrong beliefs
3. Habitual thinking
4. Negative attitudes
5. Reluctance to seek advice
6. Shortage of time
7. Changing technology
8. Lack of a yardstick for measuring value
9. Old specifications
10. Poor human relations
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recommended to save money indicates that the old way is uneconomical, or
represents poor value. It is human nature for the decision-maker to feel that
change is a threat to his security. The decision-maker naturally tends to feel
that changes suggested to him cast a bad reflection on his original decision.
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3. FUNCTION PHASE
Define the functions
Evaluate functional relationships
4. CREATIVE PHASE
Establish positive thinking
Develop Creative ideas
5. EVALUATION PHASE
Refine and combine ideas
Establish costs on all ideas
Develop alternative ideas for functions
Evaluate by comparison
6. INVESTIGATION PHASE
Use company and industry standards
Consults vendors and specialists
Use specialty products, processes and procedures
7. RECOMMENDATION PHASE:
Present facts
Present costs
Motivate positive action
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INFLUENCE OF SELECTION OF TIME ON
VE APPLICATION
PHASE VE EMPHASIS
CONCEPT VE studies during this phase are directed at:
FORMULATION Furnishing inputs needed to ensure the most
PHASE economical decisions to achieve the functions
sought.
achieving low total cost of ownership (rather
than just low acquisition cost)
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BEGINNING A VALUE ENGINEERING STUDY
Very often though, organisations chose cost reduction as the primary purpose
of a VE exercise. In such cases, following Pareto's Law of “Mal-
distribution”, VE attempts to identify and isolate the small percentage of the
elements in a single system that contribute to a great percentage of the cost
of the system. Those with the greatest potential for impact on cost, then
become the candidates for application of VE.
PLANNING A STUDY
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and other segments of his organisation. “People problems” are usually
more difficult to resolve than technical problems. It is best to prevent them
before they start.
THE TEAM
It has been shown that the optimum size for a team is five persons,
supported on a part-time basis by other elements of the organisation or
outside experts and consultants. The composition of the team should be
mixed and multi-disciplinary. Individual work experience or background in
the technology involved for the particular study is important, but not to the
exclusion of those who have no background in the study subject. A mix of
talent is desired to achieve different points of view and disassociation with
the subject of the study.
Emphasis should be placed on using the best talent available. Involve people
who are directly affected by the problem in arriving at the solutions. Human
relations play an important part in the successful conduct of a study.
FUNCTION ANALYSIS
Generally intense need and desire to reduce costs is often equated with the
act of reducing quality or making sacrifices in requirements down to just
above the limit of tolerability, chopping frills. According to Miles both use
functions and aesthetic functions are important as they serve the needs of
the customer and should be part of the value analysis process. It is, however,
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important to determine when an aesthetic function is required, and when it is
superfluous. Function analysis is a system to show exactly what one gets for
his money. It responds directly to the needs of the owner.
VALUE
1. USE VALUE:
Properties that accomplish a use, work, or service
2. ESTEEM VALUE
Properties that make ownership of an object desirable
3. COST VALUE
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Properties, which are sum of labour, material, overhead and other costs
required to produce something
4. EXACHANGE VALUE
Properties of an object that make it possible to procure other items by
trading
Some relevant
DEFINITIONS:
Goal
A goal is a desired state of affairs. Goal statements are usually of value to
the highest-level management. Goals tend to be restated over time.
Objective/Purpose
Objective is a definition of the benefits a program plan is intended to
accomplish. Impact of a program is measured against these objectives.
Purpose is often used in place of an objective.
Operation
An operation is the unit of work necessary to contribute to the
objective. Operation means action.
Function
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A Function is an action usually described by a verb and a noun without
identifying a specific method of performing an action. A function often
would describe a method of performing a preceding function.
Method
Method is the type of work required to accomplish the operation. The
specific method of performing a Function/action is frequently recorded
within the description of a subsequent function/action.
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Dependent Function
Dependent function is a function that depends on another function for
its existence. This function comes in to existence when a specific
method is selected.
Independent Function
Independent function’s existence does not depend upon one or
more other functions for its existence or on the method selected to
perform those functions.
Basic Function
A function, which describes the principal action, that must be
performed. It is independent of all other functions being considered.
Critical Path Functions
Any functions which describe specifically how or why another
functions are performed.
Support Function
Support function is a function, which assists a critical function in doing
its job so that it may be done in a reliable and acceptable manner.
Higher Order Functions
Higher order functions are reasons for the lower order functions to
exist. In the FAST diagram they appear in the left-hand portion of the
diagram.
Lower Order functions
Lower order Functions serve the higher order functions. Their
existence depends on the relevance of higher order functions. In the
FAST diagram they appear in the right-hand portion of the diagram.
Preceding Function
It is a function, which comes before or to the left of another function in
the FAST diagram.
Succeeding or Subsequent Function
It is a function, which comes after or to the right of another function in
the FAST diagram.
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Thought –Provoking Questions, helpful in FAST diagramming:
Where an item serves but one function, the cost of the item is equal to the
cost of the function. However, in most cases, an item serves more than one
function. When this occurs, the cost of the item must be prorated to each
function.
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VALUE TESTS
To determine satisfactory/unsatisfactory value
1. Does it contribute to value?
2. Is it proportionate to its usefulness?
3. Does it need all its features?
4. Is there anything better for the intended use?
5. Is any one buying it for less?
6. Can a useable part be made by a lower cost method?
7. Will another dependable supplier provide it for less?
8. Don't material, reasonable labour, overhead, and profit total to
its cost?
9. Is it made of proper tooling, considering quantities used?
10.Can a standard product be found which will be usable
Key Questions: What? When? How? Why? Where? Who?
To aid in determining worth, one might ask the following series of questions:
1. What is the cost of achieving the basic function as the item is presently
designed?
2. Do you think the performance of the basic function should cost that
much?
3. If no, what do you consider would be a reasonable amount to pay for the
performance of the function (assuming for the moment that the function
is actually required) if you were to pay for it out of your own pocket.
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4. What is the cost of achieving this function if some other known item is
used?
5. Is this a common, easily accomplished function or one that is rare and
difficult to achieve?
6. What is the price of some item that will almost but not quite, perform the
function?
In determining worth, the key rule to be remembered is that worth is
associated with necessary function or functions and not with the present
design of the item or system.
CREATIVITY
The creative process is that process which the mind normally follows in
seeking a solution. It involves the follow steps.
• ORIENTATION: Defining the problem to be solved, and selecting the
approach that should be taken to solve it.
• PREPARATION: Information gathering and fact-finding.
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• IDEATION: Production of alternative solution to the problem.
• INCUBATION: Sorting and combining the information, and slowing the
pace to invite illumination.
• SYNTHESIS: Bringing all the ideas together into a complete whole.
• VERIFICATION: Evaluation of the proposed solution or resulting
ideas.
BLOCKS TO CREATIVITY
1. HABITUAL BLOCKS
• Continuing to use "tried and true" procedures although new and better
ones are available.
• Rejection of alternate solutions which are incompatible with habitual
solutions.
• Lack of a positive outlook, lack of determined effort, conformity to
custom, and reliance on authority.
2. PERCEPTUAL BLOCKS
• Failure to use all the senses of observation.
• Failure to investigate the obvious.
• Inability to define terms.
• Difficulty in visualising remote relationships.
• Failure to distinguish between cause and effect.
3. CULTURAL BLOCKS
• Desire to conform to "proper" patterns, customs or methods.
• Over-emphasis on competition or on co-operation.
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• The drive to be practical above all things and being too quick to make
immediate judgements.
• Belief that all indulgence in fantasy is a waste of time.
• Having confidence and faith only in reason and logic.
4. EMOTIONAL BLOCKS
• Fear of making a mistake or of appearing foolish.
• Fear of supervisor’s distrust of colleagues and subordinates.
• Over-motivation to succeed quickly.
• Refusal to take any detour in reaching a goal.
• Inabilities to reject decisions, which are adequate but which, are sub-
optimum.
PROBLEM SENSITIVITY
Being aware, that problem exists.
IDEA FLUENCY
Being able to produce ideas in copious quantities.
FLEXIBILITY
Being open-minded and adaptive in the approach to problem.
ORIGINALITY
The ability to produce a great number of new and unique ideas.
CONSTRUCTIVE DISCONTENT
Dissatisfaction with existing conditions with an attitude of mind, which
seeks to improve the conditions. This type of person usually asks why and
how.
OBSERVATION
Alertness to the environment.
FACILITY AT COMBINATION
The ability to combine and recombine information in a variety of ways.
ORIENTATION
Development of proper frame of mind toward creativity.
MOTIVATION
The mustering of the necessary energy to work toward a goal and achieve it.
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PERMISSIVE ATMOSPHERE
The environment in which new ideas are encouraged.
EVALUATION
Evaluation may be accomplished either by the generating group or by an
independent group.
The above five factors are scored by the team on a 1 to 10 scale with 10
being the score for least cost, least time, most benefit, highest probability of
implementation, and most current state-of-the-art. It is most important in
conducting a screening step that no ideas be discarded without being scored.
Scoring will be difficult and it will be subjective.
The team should try to anticipate all of the effect, repercussions, and
consequences that might occur in trying to accomplish implementation of
one idea as a solution. This probing should result, in a sense, as a measure
of sensitivity to problems, which might be inherent in changes, caused by
the new idea. Here are some questions to ask.
1. Will the idea work?
2. Can it be modified or combined with another?
3. What is the saving potential if it does work? 4. What are the chances for
implementation?
5. What might be affected?
6. Who might be affected?
7. Will it be relatively difficult or easy to make the change? 8. Will it
satisfy all the user’s needs?
9. Is there enough time to implement it?
The answers to these questions will vary depending upon the
Objective of the value study and the time frame and resources available.
All criteria /factors are not equally important. Their relative importance
is accounted for using a Weighted evaluation technique. This practise in VE
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and is specially suited to selecting alternatives that optimise criteria and
factors not readily measurable by cost such as, aesthetics, safety, time,
quality, etc.
Presentation of VE idea should always be made in written form. Yet, the oral
presentation of study results often clinches the decision. The content of the
report to management must be clear and concise.
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A TYPICAL OUTLINE OF CONTENT FOR A
WRITTEN OR ORAL PRESENTATION:
IDENTIFY VE TEAM
Introduce team
Acknowledge other contributors
IDENTIFY SUBJECT
Outline scope of study
IDENTIFY FUNCTIONS STUDIED
Use an abbreviated FAST diagram
Identify basic functions
PROVIDE PRESENT COST OF FUNCTIONS
Indicate the cost of the item
Relate cost to function
EXPLAIN METHODOLOGY USED
Indicate worth of functions
Relate how many ideas were considered
Explain weight evaluation attributes
Relate the performance criteria required
Show selection from top 2 - 3 candidates
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommend specific changes
EXPECTED BENEFITS
Review life cycle costs
Review break-even analysis
Review return on investment
Explain intangible benefits
SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Propose a plan to implement
Indicate implementation cost and timing
Indicate consequences of delay
ASK FOR ACTION
Offer your services
Be prepared to answer questions
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DEVELOPMENT FOR DOD, (USA) VE
PROGRAMME
- An Outline
DEFENCE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN VE/VA
∗ Ordnance Corporation Of Army.
∗ Navy Bureau Of Weapons.
∗ Army Signal Corporation.
∗ Air Force Ballistic Missile Agency.
VE INCENTIVE CONTRACT
∗ VECP’s contemplated are those that would result in net savings to the
govt. by providing and decrease in the cost of performance of the
contract, VECP’s must result in savings without impairing any required
functions and characteristics such as.
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be combined, reduced or eliminated as being non-essential or excessive
to the satisfactory performance of the work.
The govt. desires to benefit from the experience and knowledge of it’s
contractors in the area.
∗ New Materials ∗ Industry Standards
∗ New Techniques ∗ New Processes
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES :
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SAVINGS FACTORS BASED ON 450 VE ACTIONS
% Of Total Factor D,M VE Action
Savings Responsible P,S
23% Advantage In (M.P) Incorporation Of New
Technology Material Components
Techniques & Processes
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CHECKLIST FOR NEW IDEAS
Put to other uses? New ways to use as is? Other uses if modified?
Adapt? What else is like this? What other ideas does this suggest?
Does past offer parallel / What should I copy? Whom
could I emulate?
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VALUE ENGINEERING CHECKLISTS
A. Specifications
B. Function
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C. Design
D. Special requirements
E. Materials
F. Manufacturing
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5. Are there any particularly costly operations required in its manufacture?
What do they result from? High labour? Expensive equipment? Tooling?
Indirect materials?
6. What quantities are required per unit? Per year? Per production order?
7. What will be the Economical Order Quantities (EOQ)?
8. What tolerances are important?
9. What are potential sources?
10.What elements contribute to high cost?
11.What methods, machines, process are used?
G. Miscellaneous
This checklist of questions can provide new points of view. To gain the most
from such a list, twist each question around until it applies to you problem.
A. Marketing concept
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B. Design
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(e) Substitute materials or finishes
(f) Simplify it
1. Put all the tapped holes into one part-eliminate them from others.
2. Use available fastening devices and eliminate tapping entirely.
3. Challenge secondary punch press operations or secondary screw
machine operations or other secondary operations.
4. Make the parts straight instead of curved straight fittings cost less
than elbows.
5. Don’t plate copper parts which are later painted.
6. When blind holes are needed. Show minimum depth with notation,
‘Don’t drill through’, rather than specifying depth limits.
7. Use squared ends grounds ends double the cost the spring.
8. Instead of two tapped holes for set screws at 90 put set screws one
top of the other in the same hole.
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9. Avoid underouts on moulded plastics to eliminate mould cycles
and slower machine cycle.
10.Question chrome plating or polishing on screw heads.
11.Question unusual machined surfaces. It may require secondary
operations to obtain them.
12.Consider pal-nuts to eliminate nuts and lockwashers on light parts.
13.Stamp the nut impressions into the part-eliminate fastening
devices.
14.Don’t bend it.
15.Use a miniature casting in lieu of several small assembled a
stampings.
16.Use square instead of rounded corners on stampings.
17.Use roll pins to eliminate reaming.
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(h)Alter design so that standard parts or materials may be used.
(i) Determine where the design might be altered for automated assembly
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12.Design parts for barrel plating rather than hooking in still tank.
13.Use multi-slide machines to eliminate secondary operations.
14.Stamp parts in punch press rather than hand stamp.
15.Use tubular rivets rather than solid rivets which have to be peened
over slowly in a high speed hammer.
16.Lithograph or print rather than etch.
17.Permanent mould rather than sand cast.
18.When desired, actually reduce the size of the shank on a screw by a
special thread roller arrangement.
(k) Use a higher cost material, which, by its nature and properties will
afford a simplified design lower cost assembly.
C. Manufacturing
1. Fabricate it.
2. Die cast it.
3. Extrude it.
4. Permanent mould cast it.
5. Roll and weld it.
6. Roll form it.
7. Lost wax casting.
8. Miniature casting.
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9. Miniature casting on wire, cord, tape or rod.
10.Miniature casting automatically with inserts.
11.Elecro-forming.
12.Low cost, low quality stampings.
13.Fabrication from copper or brass tubing.
14.Powder metallurgy.
15.Refer to the additional and more detailed checklist of speciality
products and processes.
1. Are the available highly specialised low cost suppliers being used?
2. Have the suppliers’ engineers been given sufficient facts and
pressed for suggestions which would produce equivalent
performance at lower cost?
3. Has the buyer taken advantage of the know-how of other
purchasing units using larger quantities of similar materials?
4. Should some minor changes suggested by the supplier which
afford lower cost material, be considered further?
5. Are parts obtained in best economical lot size?
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D. Don’t be stopped
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III. HUMAN ENGINEERING DESIGN CHECKLIST
1. System design.
2. Environment.
(a) Is the space provided around the equipment adequate for operators
and maintainers?
(b) Is the operator’s seating and working symptom, may suitable for
prolonged periods of operating, as in watch-keeping tasks?
(c) What lighting is required in compartments to ensure efficient
operations? Have steps been taken to avoid sources of glare and
unwanted reflections?
(d) Is special care necessary to avoid extremes of temperature and
inadequate ventilation?
(e) Should steps be taken to reduce noise in the working environment?
(f) In considering the design features for operation and maintenance,
will the system ever be in motion and if so, has this been taken into
account?
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3. Communications
(a) Are the sensory capacities of human operators adequate for the tasks
imposed?
(b) Do any displays carry more information then is really required?
(c) Is the information displayed in the most directly usable form, or does it
require interpretation?
Does the same man have to report and interpret?
(d) Are the displays compatible with associated control tasks?
(e) Are the scale marks and number systems, etc. on dial displays suitable for
reading under operational conditions? Is the contrast between displays
lettering etc., and the background as great as possible?
(f) If there are several displays, have they been properly gouged?
(g) If cathode ray tubes are used, have special precautions been taken to
ensure suitable lighting?
(h) Do essential displays include a means of indicating when they are out of
order?
5. Controls.
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(e) If one operator has several controls, on which principles have they
been grouped? Is each one within the operators normal reach? Is
there space for each to be handled as required? Could some tasks
assigned to the hand be transferred to the foot?
6. Console design
(a) Are working conditions for the maintainer the best possible as regards
(a) Lighting , (b) Ventilation and (C) posture?
(b) Can maintenance work be conducted without interference to
operation? Has segregation of maintenance equipment been
considered? Are there requirements for preventative periodic) control
required?
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(e) Can components be readily identified and located by reference to
handbooks or maintenance cards.
(f) Is any removable chassis part too heavy (i.e. greater than 30 lb.) or
awkwardly-shaped to be lifed manually and carried? Are special
slinging and carrying facilities advisable?
(g) Can maintenance work be carried out without special tools? Is there
room to manipulate controls and tools in various parts of the
equipment? Is there space for the development of necessary test
instruments?
8. Safety.
(a) Have adequate precautions been taken to protect the operator from
all hazards? (Electrical, mechanical, chemical, radiation, not and
cold surfaces)?
(b) Have the dangers to maintainers of encountering the above hazards
been minimised? Are there instructions or warning notices to
acquaint maintainers with these possible dangers? (Should special
instructions be promulgated more widely?) Have special protective
clothing or insulated tools been considered?
(c) Do the precautions take into account operation during motion if
this possible? Are guards provided against moving machinery?
This convenient checklist tells where to look, what to do, when analysing
values?
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I. Design
B) Combine function
1. Reduce size
2. Reduce thickness
3. Reduce scrap or skeleton
4. Reduce operations by changing shape/
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5. Lower grade critical materials for higher grades.
6. Powdered metals for machined metals.
7. Plastics for metal and vice versa.
8. Die castings for machined parts and vice versa.
9. Metalised materials for fabrics.
10. Zinc for nickel and vice versa.
11. Enamel for plating and vice versa.
(G) Substitute high production, low cost parts for low production, high
cost parts.
1. Impact extrusions.
2. Epoxy resin castings for plastic parts
3. Printed circuits for complex wire and soldered circuits.
4. Adhesive fasting.
5. Ultra-sonic or gold welding.
6. Machine assembly.
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II. Fabrication
III. Miscellaneous
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(a) Dressing grinding wheels, correct mixtures and amount of
cutting oils and tool lubricating oils, etc.
1. Steam
2. Compressed air
(a) Intermittent air for part ejection and automatic air shut-off
when machine is stopped.
5. Industrial gas.
1. Conveyorising
2. Bulk handling
(D) Packaging
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(E) Inspection
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VALUE ENGINEERING
( A Unit Based Programme For Whirlpool of India Limited)
A THREE DAY
UNIT BASED PROGRAMME
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
DAY & DATE SESSIO TOPIC FACULTY
N
Day 1 FN Introduction To Value Engineering HVB
th
August 25 , 03 AN Function Identification And Analysis HVB
Day 2 FN Creative Idea Generation And Refinement HVB
th
August 26 , 03 AN Integration Of Ideas And Their Evaluation HVB
Day 3 FN VE Project Identification & Data Collection HVB
th
August 27 , 03
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