In response to Jeffrey A. Sells and Timothy P. Cohens article Value EngineeringCutting Corners Can Shortchange Kids , I would like to suggest that these comments are severely critical of a methodology that does improve the value of any product if applied properly (ENR 7/14 p. 55). It has been my experience that, too often, the value engineering team is called into the project too late. That is usually after the expensive design choices have already been made and it is extremely difficult to make changes that would improve value without eliminating some of these expensive choices. This is especially true if an architects fee is based on the total cost of the project and the designer has invested a significant amount in the design. Naturally, the architect will be upset if value engineering decisions reduce the overall cost of the project by 10 to 25% and the designers fee is reduced accordingly.
Best results from VE are achieved when it is first applied early in the design prior to any significant design activities. Another study is performed after the preliminary design, based on the direction from the first study and available cost estimates. Granted, the cost savings will not be as apparent when VE is applied in this way because the unnecessary costs will have been avoided and not designed into the project in the first place.