★What's Value engineering?

Value engineering (VE) is systematic method to improve the "value" of goods or products and services by using an examination of function.  Value, as defined, is the ratio（比率） of function to cost. Value can therefore be increased by either improving the function or reducing the cost.

Everyone has value, one's value cannot be ruined.（每个人都有价值）

★How to do VE

Some value engineering exercises are informal, with the team members agreeing on a format or a procedure. Others follow more formal lines. The following are the main components of a good value engineering program:

▶Identification of areas for review : Each team member critically examines the design drawings and specifications. The ideas formulated during this time focus on areas of the design that could take advantage of new product or processes, different use of materials, simplified systems.(确定审查区域:每位团队成员都严格审查设计图纸和规范。这期间主要关注如何利用新产品、新工艺、新材料以及简化系统的优势) 

▶Brainstorming session: Team members sit down together with lists of ideas  and toss up ideas and thoughts for others to catch. They put as many ideas as possible on the table. Members are always inspired by others’thoughts and come up with their unique ideas. It is important to keep brainstorming on function and off cost reduction. (头脑风暴会议：团队成员坐在一起，提出各自想法，与其他人理解交流。提出的想法要尽可能多。成员们总是受到他人想法的启发，进而提出自己独特的想法。大脑风暴会议对于功能改进以及成本降低非常重要。)

▶Analysis of each recommendation: The group sets up criteria by which to evaluate each idea. The alternatives discussed in the brainstorming session are tested here against those criteria.(分析每项建议：小组建立评价标准，对每个想法进行评判。头脑风暴会议中所讨论的各种备选方案也根据这些标准进行检测。) 

▶Report to management: Here the team puts together all the ideas into package. Some have been rejected by the team, and some are recommended for immediate implementation.  Some may be carried forward to further analysis in other phases of the project when more information is available. This implies value engineering effort continues throughout project .  (向管理层汇报:团队将所有想法整合打包。有些想法被团队拒绝，有些则建议立即实施。一些想法在获得更多信息以后可以在项目的其他阶段进一步分析。这意味着价值工程工作将贯穿整个项目。)

关于大脑风暴

★Why there is always a bad name for VE?

Value engineering and cost reduction are often confused, which has given value engineering a bad name among designers. However there is distinction（区别）. Value engineering is a process that considers cost in the context of other factors: life-cycle cost, quality, durability, and maintainability.

 Cost reduction, on the other hand, considers only first cost. In a value engineering process the owner should be buying an item or system of equal value to another proposed system. In cost reductions he or she is accepting something of less value or less scope to save money. Value engineering gives a “better bang for the buck,” while cost reductions can reduce the quality or quality of the project to save money. Value engineering is not limited to the construction industry but is used throughout the business world to help analyze processes and products with the object of getting the best value for the least cost.

One reason why value engineering has taken negative image is that designers sometimes feel that the construction professional is judging their work and making recommendations that compromise the aesthetic quality of the project.

☞life–cycle costing:

“Life- cycle costing” is an advanced and useful cost analysis theory. It examines not only a building or system’s initial（初始的） purchasing and construction price, but also the operating（运营） and maintenance（维护） costs as well as future benefits over their life. It can guide the designer and owner to make the most valuable decision while determining material use, site location and such issues. For instance, a specific non-conventional（非传统的） heating system could have a high first cost. First costs include costs directly related to the design, purchase, and installation of a system.But such a system have a longer life than a conventional system, may burn fuel more efficiently, may not needs as much maintenance , and may use a cheaper fuel resource. Once all these costs are weighted, the actual long-term cost of the system may turn out to be less than other systems. If analyzed only on the first cost, however the non-conventional system will be rejected.) 

Reviewing questions(复习思考): 

1.What is VE, and how to carry out this practice during design?

2.what is  Life-cycle costing?