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While countries such as the United States pass increasingly stricter environmental laws, industrial and governmental organizations face increasing pressures. They must deliver safe, effective solutions that are cost-effective as well.
The value methodology (also called value engineering, value analysis or value management) can achieve those objectives. In fact, U.S. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-131 requires use of the value methodology for wastewater-treatment projects that cost more than $10 million. VM use produces the following results:
- Quick, creative, effective solutions
- Optimized environmental impact
- Maximized resources
- Optimized construction expenditures
- Lower life-cycle costs
- Alternative technology discoveries
Environmental stewardship requires a complex partnership between government, industry and the public at large.
Citizens increasingly scrutinize environmental solutions in terms of their health issues, thoroughness and permanence of remediation techniques, and cost of services. Legislators, consumer groups, employers and health-care providers are divided on the overall effects of environmental crises.
These same groups focus on the future issue of environmental degradation, misuse of resources, potential hazards and the future effects of what is now considered safe to use. And no one wants to spend more than necessary to remediate disturbed environments.
"Value engineering has great potential in hazardous, toxic, radiological waste remediation. Environmental work is usually high-cost. It offers greater opportunities for VE savings."
--Merle L. Braden and John D. Sankey
Office of Value Engineering
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Providers of environmental services must deliver quality to retain certification of compliance while containing costs to ensure viability. The VM process can focus on eliminating waste, enhancing staff creativity and effectiveness, and lowering the costs of investigation, analysis, construction, operations and future maintenance – while maximizing the effectiveness of environmental solutions to meet the needs of the public.
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