By Mary Ann W. Lewis, FSAVE – President, SAVE International
I was asked the other day why SAVE International should be the organization of choice for any professional. Good question…
The Value Methodology is a practice that improves the performance and cost a product, project or a process. The Value Methodology, as many of you have clearly stated over SAVE’s 56 years of existence, is also the framework that enables:
- Critical thinking
- Facilitated decision making
- Function-inspired change
- Collaboration
…all of which drive innovation.
Change is hard; and when an organization’s culture embraces the ability to think differently while continuing to follow its internal processes, the company or government agency will achieve even better results. VA/VE is that “think differently” element.
Last year’s keynote speaker, Christine Furstoss of General Electric, stated that there are tools at every stage of the design process to enable the design team to learn consistently and with a rhythm. That process rhythm starts by capturing data from Lean/Six Sigma and other sources; then uses VE to turn that data into information, which then becomes knowledge, which explodes as disruption, and ultimately drives the innovation that creates the next best product.
VE is a critical link in the process of change; and when empowered to step out of the box and think differently during the design process, and to objectively assess how we are doing, then we have taken the fear out of change because we know that we can verify and will be supported in our decisions.
So, why should SAVE International be the society of choice for any professional – because it is where you are able to:
- Learn the methodology – firstly and continuously
- Become certified in VM
- Communicate regularly with subject matter experts
- Benchmark with other companies and government agencies on how to best apply VA/VE
- Present your own findings at Value Summits
…and, hopefully, make some lifelong friends along the way.
Hope to see this and you in action in August in Philadelphia!
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