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Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

Article  in  Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering · December 2013

DOI: 10.17265/2328-2142/2013.12.005

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Dec. 2013, Volume 1, No. 1 (Serial No. 1), pp. 39-48
Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, ISSN 2328-2142, USA
D DAVID PUBLISHING

Application of Value Engineering in Construction

Projects

Senay Atabay and Niyazi Galipogullari

Department of Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Faculty, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul 34220, Turkey

Abstract: The current economic conditions have entailed the use of rational method and techniques and research and application of
new techniques by utilizing advancements in technology in the field of production as well as in every field. Excess cost control
requires to be maintained throughout the project life of building beginning from the initial stages of design. Scrutinizing the project
well and considering all possible alternatives particularly in design stage are important for achieving optimum cost. In this study,
how the principles of VE (value engineering) are applied in construction projects is explained, and by covering
Bregana-Zagreb-Dubrovnik Motorway construction in Croatia by BECHTEL – ENKA joint venture as the sample project, practices
of VE in this project are described. The satisfactory results of time and cost saving are achieved by applying value engineering
principles through the VE team during the project preparation phase and project revision phase. Approximately 43,000,000$ and 12
months of time were saved in total thanks to all these VE works. This saving provided builder company with 6% financial saving and
17% work time reduction.

Key words: Value engineering, value management, motorway construction.

1. Introduction VE is a technique directed toward analyzing the

functions of an item or process to determine “best
VE (value engineering) was developed at General
value”, or the best relationship between worth and
Electric Corp. during World War II and is widely used
cost. In other words, “best value” is represented by an
in industry and government, particularly in areas such
item or process that consistently performs the required
as defense, transportation, construction and healthcare.
basic function and has the lowest life-cycle cost. In
VE is an effective technique for reducing costs,
this context, the application of VE in facilities
increasing productivity and improving quality. It can
construction can yield a better value when
be applied to hardware and software; development,
construction is approached in a manner that
production and manufacturing; specifications,
incorporates environmentally-sound and
standards, contract requirements and other acquisition
energy-efficient practices and materials.
program documentation; and facilities design and
Because “costs” are measurable, “cost reduction” is
construction. VE is defined as “an analysis of the
often thought of as the sole criterion for a VE
functions of a program, project, system, product, item
application and indeed it is primarily addressed in this
of equipment, building, facility, service or supply of
document. However, the real objective of VE is
an executive agency, performed by qualified agency
“value improvement” and that may not result in an
or contractor personnel, directed at improving
immediate cost reduction [1].
performance, reliability, quality, safety and life cycle
VE is a systematic, low-cost approach to assessing
costs”. It may be successfully introduced at any point
the “value” of a project. Typically, VE on projects can
in the life-cycle of products, systems, or procedures.
be used to gain the following benefits [2]:
Corresponding author: Senay Atabay, Ph.D., assistant  cost reductions;
professor, research fields: construction management. Email:  time savings (schedule savings);
satabay@yildiz.edu.tr.
40 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

 quality improvements; by using an examination of function [8]. Value, as

 isolation of design deficiencies. defined, is the ratio of function to cost (Eq. (1)). Value
The paper of Kemmochi and Koizumi [3] can, therefore, be increased by either improving the
demonstrates that aspects and issues of VE in function or reducing the cost.
construction industry by comparing with Function (desired performance)
Value = ────────────────── (1)
manufacturing industry and combating these, VE
Overall costs
implemented in construction industry must be succinct Reasons for poor value can be that: lack of
and propose methods to conduct VE from the information, decisions based on wrong beliefs,
viewpoint of construction industry. In a study prepared habitual thinking, negative attitudes, reluctance to
by Naderpajouh and Afshar [4], a conceptual expert seek advice, shortage of time, changing technology,
CBR (case-based reasoning) framework is introduced lack of a yardstick for measuring value, old
in the paper to form a coherent basis for the provision specifications and poor human relations.
of practically suitable VE expert models. The Value engineering gets closer to cost control
proposed framework outlines knowledge entities and because it looks at ways to reduce costs on specific
their relations in the VE workshop. The model items or activities. However, it does not look at the
benefits from a fuzzy approach to handle uncertainties total project picture or check the daily performance, it
in the evaluation phase of the methodology. In the focuses only on specific items in the design,
another study, focusing on one component of the ICD procurement or construction area.
(integrated collaborative design) project, the paper
reviews existing, reactive value engineering methods 2. Methodology and Approach
and establishes the need for an integrated approach by VE Job Plan consists of the following sequential
identifying their inadequacies. A value management phases (Fig. 1).
context is described which integrates value The value methodology is a systematic process
engineering into continuous design processes. The following the Job Plan [2] and is applied by a
paper discusses the opportunities for utilizing supplier multidisciplinary team to improve the value of a
design expertise by modelling design process project through the analysis of functions.
information flows [5]. The paper prepared by Palmer The team leader should have completed at least a
and other [6] makes a holistic appraisal of value 40-hour VE training study and should have additional
engineering as used in the United States of America’s VE experience as a team member of VE Project
construction industry by investigating current theory studies. Other team members should have attended a
and practice. It evaluates value engineering projects one-day VE orientation course prior to being assigned
and calculates the savings achieved by them. to a team, or alternatively the study may start with a
Omigbodun’s paper examines how value engineering planned one-day VE orientation [9].
contributes to the process of obtaining an optimal
3. When to Apply Value Engineering
solution to the design problem of a building project
[7]. Cost minimization in building construction is VE should be performed as early as
discussed with examples from the writer’s experience possible—before commitment of funds approval of
on building projects in West Africa and the Middle systems, services, or design—to maximize results [8].
East. Contribution of potential savings from VE
VE is not cost cutting. VE is a systematic method to applications is much greater at earlier stages of a
improve the “value” of goods or products and services project, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When VE is applied
 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects 41

Pre study
activities

Information Function Creative Evaluation Results

analysis phase phase OK?
phase phase

Presentation Development
phase phase

Results
OK?
Value study
phases
Implementation Follow up
phase activities
Additional
activities

Fig. 1 The job plan [2].

later, two things increase: the investment required to get the job. Project must have a high “value”. Value
implement any changes and resistance to changes. has different meanings for the producing company,
VE is neither just good engineering, nor a owner, user or the designer. The builder company tries
suggestion programme, nor a routine project or plan to finish the construction with the lowest cost to
review; it is carried out in independent analysis of the obtain high profit. Owner wants to get the biggest
project. It must be recognized that VE entails a certain income from the building. User wants to be able to
amount of additional expense that must be justified by perform his works easily, while the designer gives
potential cost saving. Accordingly, the need for a more importance to his creation’s aesthetics or
change in criteria, concepts, or plans must be functions.
recognized. A distinct opportunity for financial Purpose, time, quality and cost of every activity that
rewards in terms of life-cycle cost savings must will be realized during the construction process must
warrant the added project engineering cost of a VE be determined or estimated beforehand. Owner or user
effort. wants to know which feature they will have after the
building is completed and with what cost they will
4. Usage of VE in Construction Sector
have it.
Companies in the construction sector have a better Because construction process has many
chance of getting jobs when they use the resources of components such as concept, design and drawing
the country in which they work reasonably, keep their details of the project, construction etc., and it is a
costs at the lowest level and decrease their offer price long-term production, the risk of completion of
in comparison with their rivals [10]. But the low offer construction in time, based on the estimated costs
price is not the only factor for a specific company to (first investment + usage cost) by providing features
42 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

Fig. 2 Potential savings from VE applications [9].

such as quality, durability, usefulness, continuity, production costs, the costs can be reduced without
feasibility, compliance, image and management sacrificing construction’s quality or disregarding
convenience, increases. customer’s requests, by using different materials
Suitable precautions are taken by predetermination and/or different methods.
of problematic areas via various project plannings and Materials, equipments and stipulated production
scheduling techniques. But none of these methods methods in the specification and projects may become
includes an examination in terms of the “value”. After old according to current day or be out of date. In case
a building is completed or during the construction the suggestion of the contractor for making changes is
stage, comparing the building value with the costs that accepted by the employer, a much more economical
occur during its construction is not thought about. solution will be provided for both sides. Carrying out
Although many buildings were built with high costs, production with better quality by using the suggested
desired functions were not provided. There is methods, in other words improving the quality may be
absolutely no direct proportion between a building’s a more economical solution [11].
costs and provided benefits. In value engineering
4.2 Finishing the Job before Time Schedule
rationalist evaluation techniques are used considering
the target features, and unnecessary costs are Finishing the job earlier provides economical
determined to be eliminated from the project, so that a benefits in term of reducing general costs. By
building’s value is increased and resources (money, comparing the cost of job acceleration and the reduced
material and workforce) are not wasted. general costs, it can be decided to complete the job
Some methods that increase the value in earlier.
construction sector are explained as follows. It may not be necessary to accelerate the production
speed to finish a job earlier. It may be possible to start
4.1 Reducing Construction Production Costs
earlier.
In constructions, especially in functions with high For such a condition to exist, these conditions may
 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects 43

be considered to happen: but very close to such values, product can be accepted
 finishing the project designing before the by the employer. But there may be deductions for last
schedule, especially for the jobs at the beginning; payments in return for excellence in addition to
 having the units ready in the worksite for usage acceptance approval in the quality control minutes.
beforehand, which are necessary for operation; The amounts deducted in return for excellence can be
 obtaining necessary construction permits and huge.
making construction site deliveries before the delivery As it can be understood from the results, additional
of projects which are necessary to start the job earlier; costs with significant amounts can be in question.
 providing pre-financing before advance payment; Moreover, company will experience a loss of prestige.
 having the necessary personnel ready for the The most economical production is the production
start-up in a short time at the worksite; carried out at the quality level demanded on the
 using a subcontractor at the start of the job if specifications.
necessary.
4.4 Reducing Mistakes and Deficiencies in Project
Usually, finishing the job earlier results in
Drawings to Minimum
additional costs. The additional cost should be less
than the cost reduction in total due to finishing the job Quality of the projects is one of the factors that
earlier. Finishing the job earlier as the result of affect construction’s quality most. The effect of the
scheduling to an earlier date with the decision of projects with errors which are not suitable for
management is out of the scope of value engineering. application on the construction process is negative,
In case of such a demand, the contractor will have while projects without errors or with small errors are
right to claim. suitable for application have positive effect at the
same force. It is obligatory to control the drawn
4.3 Quality Improvement and Correction
projects during the phase of drawing and before the
Quality and value are related with each other application. One of the methods, applied to reducing
one-to-one. Job is not being in compliance in terms of project design and drawing errors to minimum or zero
own quality of production and measurement is designing three dimensional projects. Therefore, the
tolerances as defined by the specifications results in mistakes, which may occur in the architecture or
these, in general terms: carrying system, will be prevented from the start.
(1) In terms of production quality: Thanks to some of the current computer
 determination of project drawing/production and programmes, three dimensional drawings can be
repair method for reconstruction or repair of defects prepared and with material and unit definitions,
that occur in productions within guarantee period; quantity lists can be obtained automatically based on
 realization of product repair/reconstruction; these drawings in order to determine material
 giving guarantee period for performed repair quantities to be used, with zero mistakes.
process/reconstruction. One of the methods reducing project preparation
(2) In terms of measurement tolerances: time to minimum is simultaneous engineering
 reconstruction of products with the application. In simultaneous engineering, it is taken as
abovementioned methods; a basis to simultaneously form the projects, which are
 reconstruction of products that are damaged formed classically with consecutive stages and with
because of reconstruction process; the participation of all project partners. So that the
 In case the mistakes are out of tolerance values mistakes in project drawing can be prevented and time
44 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

will be saved by avoiding making returns to previous repaired and reconstructed in some areas.
stages because of project mistakes. Section II: Because the Section II was not
Material and measurement tables in the sheets shall constructed by BECHTEL-ENKA joint venture,
be prepared without any mistake as they are the most details of Section II can not be given. Section III: Here,
important guides for the works of implementers. a new road was made between
Reinforced concrete iron lists, tables taken as a basis Basilijevo-Otocac-Sveti Rok (Fig. 4).
for topographic works, excavation-filling diagrams Value engineering studies were carried out for
steel production sheets and tables can be shown as various activities in Croatia Highway Project. The
examples. information about at what degree some activities
Using the most economical sizes and systems for accelerated the job and how much cost benefit was
construction elements during project designing, obtained is written below. The information on
contributes to reach suitable values in terms of costs. provided time and costs for some activities is not
With this purpose, optimization methods that given. Because the related activities are VE studies
minimize construction costs can be used during the that are carried out during project preparation stage.
design. Project time and costs provided at the beginning were
determined considering the effects of these studies.
5. Changes in Croatia Highway Project to
The activities for which time and cost reduction
Accelerate the Job and to Reduce the Costs
information is provided are VE studies that are carried
In this publication, the VE works carried out during out after the project began.
the application of Croatia Highway Project, the joint These are the activities that reduce the costs and
venture between BECHTEL Company from USA and accelerate the jobs applied on Croatia Highway
ENKA from Turkey will be explained. The related Project:
project was carried out at two different routes: The length of climbing forms used on viaduct feet
Section I: Between Bregana - Zagreb (Jankomir) are produced 4 m as standard. The climbing forms
(Fig. 3). In this route the existing old road was were produced as 5 m instead of 4 m by placing special

Fig. 3 Croatia highway project: Route 1.

 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects 45

Fig. 4 Croatia highway project: route 2.

order to production company for this project (Fig. 5). The reduction in job amount provided the construction
As the number of viaducts is high along the way, the company with $1,200,000 cost saving and job’s time
special production’s cost loss is at a degree that can be was reduced about two months.
ignored. By bringing the length of climbing forms to 5 As required by the production method of concrete
m, molding workmanship and iron workmanship channels on both sides of the road, it had to be done
amount was reduced and job speed increased. Also, before asphalt works. In this project, the places where
iron overlapping number is reduced, which provided channel was needed to be made were separated by
savings for the production company. Obtained total using cold joints, therefore asphalt works were carried
cost benefit is $40,000 and construction time was out beforehand without waiting for the production of
reduced about one month. concrete channels and job was accelerated.PEHD
A serious time reduction was provided by making (polyethylene high density) pipe system works were
germination with spraying method instead of vegetal carried out instead of concrete pipe system
earth and germination in splits and fillings.
Time is saved without price change by making
supporting wall instead of gabion which requires long
production time.
In two bridges with 60 m of opening which require
special girder production, $200,000 cost reduction is
obtained by using hammer beam (Fig. 6) and
production time was shortened for one month.
In the area where two bridges were built which was
critical in terms of job schedule, elevation is reduced
for shortening and, therefore, production time was
reduced. This situation made it possible to carry out Fig. 5 Usage of climbing form in construction of viaduct
earth works faster, with shorter transportation distance. feet [11].
46 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

requires turning back which results in time losses. In

this project, two separate asphalt facilities were used
for different asphalt types and production was carried
out simultaneously (Fig. 9). Therefore, quality was
increased while workmanship was reduced by saving
elastic band, cleaning and necessary cutting processes
for cold joint production.

6. Results
Competition among the companies in construction
sector increases day by day. Companies in
competition are addressing their customers with
Fig. 6 Hammer beam application on the bridge [11].
innovations, conveniences, low prices and quality to
for drainage systems with pipe (Fig. 7). Thanks to
applied method, a significant reduction was obtained
in drainage works which last long and therefore the
following works became faster.
Two wild animal passages were built as
cast-in-place concrete arch instead of prefabricated
building to reduce high cost due to distance of
transportation and $1,540,000 cost-saving was
provided (Fig. 8).
The length of Modruš Bridge whose length reached
2,500 m was built as three separate bridges according
to change of profile length, and total length was
shortened for 850 m. Thanks to this change, the
Fig. 7 Application of PEHD pipe system in drainage
production time was shortened for four months and works [11].
the construction company obtained $24,500,000
profit.
The open tunnel whose length reached 440 m was
completely cancelled as the result of changing the
horizontal and vertical routes, and 75,000 m3 concrete
was saved. As the result of this change, $15,400,000
cost benefit was obtained and the required job time
was shortened for four months.
Emergency stop lanes are not used much, therefore,
they are exposed to less corrosion, consequently
different types of asphalt were used for emergency
stop lanes and main road. Asphalts of these two types
of lanes are applied separately by leaving cold joint. Fig. 8 Passage-bridge construction for the passage of wild
Emergency stop lanes are not continuous, therefore animals [11].
 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects 47

Fig. 9 Highway upper structure section example.

SMA : special mastic asphalt;
AB : asphalt binder / binder;
ATB : asphalt treated base;
CTB : cement treated base.
SB : subbase.

compete with each other. But these mentioned factors increase the value of the project while preventing
are not creating sharp steps for competition, as they unnecessary costs.
are subject to laws, standards and specifications. VE is It is not possible to apply VE on each project a
one of the leading methods for competition by getting company produces. Much more successful value
free from these elements. VE application directly engineering studies can be carried out on complex and
affects each element in quality-time-cost triangle. big projects which have high potential of restoring the
In this project, approximately $43,000,000 and 12 investment. Of course value engineering works have a
months of time were saved in total thanks to all these cost, therefore this project shall be big enough to meet
VE works. This saving provided builder company this cost and obtain profit.
with 6% financial saving and 17% work time The purpose of value engineering is not just
reduction. reducing the costs, increasing the design standards,
All of the changes were carried out according to making it easier to build the project and saving time
demands of field directorates controlled by project and money. VE must create a balance between all the
manager, technical examination of engineering needs of the project.
director and approval of the management. Subject Purpose of VE shall be determined in direction of
concerns whole technical management. company purposes. Every person that joins for VE
shall be embraced. There should be no one in the team
7. Conclusions
who thinks in the opposite of project management, or
Success of a project, deciding on where and how a who is suspicious in the benefits of VE.
project will be built, completion of the structure The highest performance in VE is achieved
according to desired design and building quality, especially when the purpose is mainly increasing the
within determined time and cost limits, are all value rather than reducing the costs.
possible with good estimations and solutions. Realism Production methods developed with VE are carried
of estimations is completely in direct proportion to out to reduce the costs of a product without sacrificing
success. Carrying out correct estimations is closely the quality, keeping the cost fixed by increasing the
based on the knowledge level of the team. Value quality or shortening the production time. It shall be
engineer assumes regulating and analyzing duties to never forgotten that VE works are not just the savings
 48 Application of Value Engineering in Construction Projects

of contractor but also savings that are made in the June 2007, p. 12.
[3] S. Kemmochi, A. Koizumi, A study on the application of
project in direction of the contractor’s and the
value engineering to the construction industry, Journal of
customer’s interests. Contractor’s own saving is a Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Ser. F4 (Construction
kind of economical saving. and Management) 68 (1) (2012) 28-39.
When the projects in the world are taken into [4] N. Naderpajouh, A. Afshar, A case based reasoning
approach to application of value engineering methodology
account for which VE is used; we can see that most of
in the construction industry, Construction Management
them are applied on civil engineering constructions. and Economics 26 (4) (2008) 363-372.
Because analyses show that contribution of potential [5] S. Austin, D.S. Thomson, Integral value engineering in
savings from VE applications is much greater at design, in: Proceedings of Cobra 1999, RICS
Construction and Building Research Conference, School
earlier stages of a project. For example, USA of Construction and Property Management, University of
Highway Administration added VE into their Salford, UK, Sep. 1-2,1999.
specifications as an obligation. [6] A. Palmer, J. Kelly, S. Male, Holistic appraisal of value
engineering in construction in United States, Journal of
When VE applications are regularly carried out in
Construction Engineering and Management 122 (4) (1996)
Turkish construction sector, it will be seen that the 324-328.
competition between the companies will increase and [7] A. Omigbodun, Value engineering and optimal building
prices will become lower. More importantly, projects, Journal of Architectural Engineering 7 (2) (2001)
40-43.
systematic working and the quality will increase in
[8] A. Dell’Isola, Value Engineering: Practical Applications
addition to them. When contractor quality and for Design Construction, Maintenance & Operations, John
customer satisfaction increase, Turkish civil Wiley & Sons Inc., New Jersey, USA, 1997, p. xxii.
engineering sector will be able to advance much [9] Value Engineering Handbook, Bechtel Corporation,
London Execution Units, London, England, 2000, p.10.
further.
[10] D. Kazanc, Application of value engineering in
construction, Master’s Thesis, Istanbul Technical
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