Value engineering pays off for environmental projects  

Value engineering team at the Bountiful Woods Cross Superfund Site, Utah. (Photo by Lindsey Lien)

Jun. 30, 2008

By Greg Mellema, PE
U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville (EM CX)

In 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a collaborative effort to conduct value engineering (VE) studies for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Program.
 
The Huntsville Engineering and Support Center, Directorate of Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise (EM CX), located in Omaha, Neb., has completed nine VE Studies for EPA so far, with significant results and realized benefits. 

"I believe the program has been a tremendous success by providing real value to projects, in terms of improved quality, enhanced construction methods, reduction in waste volume generated and financial savings," said Lindsey Lien, VE program manager at the EM CX.  "Our VE team, led by a certified value specialist, is a dynamic and experienced group, engaged with the entire design team to ensure that VE results enhance the value of a project by increasing benefit and/or reducing unnecessary resource utilization."  

Results from the VE studies are substantial.  For the nine projects studied, the remedial action cost estimates total $217,600,000 with VE recommendations totaling $30,295,000, an average of 13.9 percent in reduced costs to the project.  The average cost to conduct a VE Study is $52,000, representing a 65:1 benefit/cost ratio.

The VE initiative complements the other optimization methodologies developed in large part at the EM CX.  These programs include:  Technical Project Planning (TPP) which is used extensively to cost effectively plan data acquisition requirements over the life of a remedial action; and the EPA Remediation System Evaluation (RSE) process used for optimizing operational remediation systems.

"A good VE study does require some upfront planning and coordination," Lien said.  "Typically, from project initiation to final report, a study will take approximately three to four months, with the bulk of the time allocated to upfront design review and coordination.  Once the team assembles on site, the VE team meets for two to four days, with the final report being provided about four to six weeks later.  In addition to supporting EPA, our team is now positioned to conduct VE studies for environmental projects executed under Formerly Used Defense Sites, the Defense Environmental Restoration Program and other programs as well."

If you have questions or would like additional information about the Value Engineering process, please contact Lindsey Lien, at 402-697-2580, or e-mail: lindsey.k.lien@usace.army.mil, or Greg Mellema, at 402-697-2658, e-mail: gregory.j.mellema@usace.army.mil.