Value Analysis Training

Lesson 1 • Roles and Responsibilities in VA

Defines the team structure required for effective VA, including facilitators, subject-matter experts, and sponsors. Clarifies accountability at each stage of a VA study.

Lesson 2 • Core Principles and Terminology

Introduces the fundamental rules governing VA practice, including function orientation and unnecessary cost elimination. Builds the shared language used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • VA Within Organizational Strategy

Positions VA as a strategic tool aligned with quality, procurement, and innovation goals. Shows how VA initiatives connect to measurable business outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Defining Value in Business Context

Clarifies the distinction between cost, price, and worth as perceived by stakeholders. Anchors all subsequent VA methodology in a shared vocabulary of value.

Lesson 1 • What Is a Function?

Defines function as the specific work an item performs, expressed as a verb-noun pair. Establishes function identification as the cornerstone of all VA analysis.

Lesson 2 • Function Cost Assignment

Explains how to allocate costs to individual functions rather than components. This shift reveals which functions consume disproportionate resources relative to their value.

Lesson 3 • Writing Precise Function Statements

Guides practitioners in crafting measurable, unambiguous function statements that avoid solution bias. Precision in statements prevents misdirected improvement efforts.

Lesson 4 • Function Identification Techniques

Introduces systematic methods for extracting functions from physical items, processes, and services. Builds skill in exhaustive function listing before evaluation begins.

Lesson 1 • Identifying Redundancy and Gaps

Uses the completed FAST diagram to locate duplicated functions and missing logical links. These findings directly generate improvement opportunities in later phases.

Lesson 2 • Building a FAST Diagram Step by Step

Walks through the sequential process of placing, connecting, and validating function nodes. Hands-on construction reinforces logical dependency between functions.

Lesson 3 • FAST Diagram Validation and Review

Establishes a peer-review process to confirm diagram accuracy before cost data is overlaid. Validation prevents flawed diagrams from corrupting downstream analysis.

Lesson 4 • FAST Diagram Structure and Logic

Introduces the how-why logic axis and the scope lines that bound a FAST diagram. Understanding the structure is prerequisite to building accurate diagrams.

Lesson 1 • Prioritizing Improvement Opportunities

Combines value index rankings with feasibility filters to produce a prioritized list of targets. This prioritization guides the creative phase toward the highest-impact opportunities.

Lesson 2 • Cost Data Collection Methods

Covers techniques for gathering reliable cost data from accounting systems, supplier quotes, and time studies. Data quality directly determines the accuracy of value index calculations.

Lesson 3 • Calculating the Value Index

Introduces the value index ratio of worth to cost and interprets what different index ranges signal. A low index flags functions where cost far exceeds the value delivered.

Lesson 4 • Sensitivity and Uncertainty in Cost Data

Addresses how to handle incomplete or estimated cost data through sensitivity analysis. Practitioners learn to communicate confidence levels alongside value index results.

Lesson 1 • Managing and Documenting the Idea Pool

Establishes a system for recording, categorizing, and preserving all generated ideas for evaluation. Proper documentation prevents loss of viable ideas and supports traceability.

Lesson 2 • Analogical and Biomimicry Thinking

Introduces analogical reasoning and nature-inspired thinking as sources of novel function alternatives. These techniques break habitual thinking patterns that limit idea diversity.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Creative Thinking in VA

Explains why deferred judgment and divergent thinking are essential during idea generation. Establishes ground rules that protect creative output from premature criticism.

Lesson 4 • SCAMPER and Morphological Analysis

Applies the SCAMPER checklist and morphological matrix to systematically explore function alternatives. Structured tools ensure comprehensive coverage of the solution space.

Lesson 1 • Evaluation Criteria Development

Guides teams in defining weighted criteria such as cost savings, feasibility, and risk before evaluating ideas. Criteria defined before evaluation prevent bias from influencing selection.

Lesson 2 • Screening and Filtering Techniques

Applies rapid screening tools to eliminate ideas that fail minimum thresholds before detailed analysis. Early filtering focuses team effort on the most promising candidates.

Lesson 3 • Risk and Feasibility Assessment

Integrates technical, financial, and implementation risk into the evaluation of top-ranked ideas. Risk-adjusted rankings prevent selection of ideas that are attractive but undeliverable.

Lesson 4 • Weighted Scoring and Decision Matrices

Demonstrates how to score shortlisted ideas against weighted criteria using a structured matrix. Numerical scoring reduces subjectivity and creates a defensible selection record.

Lesson 1 • Presenting Proposals to Decision-Makers

Develops skills for delivering concise, data-driven presentations that address stakeholder concerns. Effective presentation converts analytical work into approved action.

Lesson 2 • Developing Ideas into Proposals

Converts shortlisted ideas into structured proposals by defining scope, approach, and expected outcomes. A well-developed proposal reduces ambiguity and accelerates approval.

Lesson 3 • Structuring the VA Proposal Document

Provides a standard proposal template covering executive summary, analysis, recommendations, and appendices. Consistent structure makes proposals easier to review and compare.

Lesson 4 • Implementation Planning Basics

Outlines the key elements of an implementation plan including milestones, owners, and dependencies. A credible plan demonstrates that the proposal is actionable, not theoretical.

Lesson 1 • Sustaining VA Gains Long Term

Identifies practices that prevent regression to old methods and embed VA improvements into standard operations. Sustainability transforms one-time savings into permanent cost reductions.

Lesson 2 • Monitoring Implementation Progress

Establishes key performance indicators and review cadences to track implementation against the plan. Early detection of deviations allows corrective action before savings are lost.

Lesson 3 • Measuring and Verifying Realized Savings

Describes methods for confirming that projected savings have been achieved after implementation. Verified savings build organizational confidence in VA and justify future investment.

Lesson 4 • Change Management in VA Implementation

Applies change management principles to overcome resistance and build buy-in among affected stakeholders. Addressing human factors is as critical as technical execution.