Date: 11/30/2011
News Item: JE Fuller hosts another “Brown Bag” training seminar
Description: Jon Fuller presented our latest Brown Bag training seminar titled: New Geomorphic Approach to Delineating the Ordinary High Water Mark. The JE Fuller Brown Bag series are monthly (or near monthly) training seminars presented by JE Fuller staff on a wide variety of water resource topics. Each seminar is one hour in length and is pre-approved by the Association of State Floodplain Managers for one continuing education credit (CEC).

Date: 4/1/2011
News Item: Pat Quinn receives Associate Value Specialist (AVS) certification
Brief Description: Pat Quinn, PE, RLS, AVS recently completed Value Methodology training successfully earning certification as an Associate Value Specialist (AVS). Value Methodology is used in government and in the design, construction, and manufacturing industries to optimize projects, business and manufacturing processes, and product development.

Detailed Description: Value Methodology is a specific process that has been developed to analyze a project or product from a functional perspective to identify what functions are required, which functions are providing value to the user, and whether any different methods be identified to provide those functions. The actual process consists of the following steps:

• Pre‐Study
• Value Workshop
• Information Phase
• Function Analysis Phase
• Creative Phase
•  Evaluation Phase
•  Development Phase
• Presentation Phase
• Post‐Study

Value Methodology is really a form of structured innovation, where a multidisciplinary group of 5‐8 professionals, with appropriate experience, are selected to be on a team assigned to review a particular product, project or component. They immerse themselves in the detail of the project, much as in a peer review, to become fully versed in all aspects. They then analyze the project from a functional perspective, often developing a function logic diagram called a FAST diagram to visually represent the functional relationships of the project. Each component of the project is defined by a specific function name (active verb, measurable noun) and often the worth of that function is identified. All information is recorded by the team as they work through the detail of the project.

This functional perspective is difficult to accomplish, and redefines the project in an abstract manner that connects with and challenges the creative side of the brain. The immersion in project detail, abstract functional thinking, and the perspective of involved professionals under the direction of a skilled Value Specialist in a receptive environment often results in breakthrough thinking. Once the Function Analysis Phase is complete the team then uses various creative tools to develop new ideas, and moves through the remaining steps of the process; Evaluation, Development, and Presentation. A report is usually generated as a component of the Post‐Study that summarizes all the team’s recommendations.

Hundreds of successful studies are done each year, including a large number for government projects, to insure that the owner receives the most value from their project. These studies need to be done early in the design process, before the design is complete, and changes (sometimes significant) can still be made.

SAVE International® is the premier international society devoted to the advancement and promotion of the value methodology.
www.value-eng.org/