Value Engineering Synergies with Lean Six Sigma

Chapter 1

Introduction

Lean Six Sigma (LSS), its Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) variant, and Value Engineering (VE) were developed as business process improvement initiatives. This book explores synergies among LSS, DFSS, and VE by identifying opportunities where they can be used together to increase the likelihood of obtaining improvements beyond the capability of just one approach.

The origins of these initiatives are different. VE originated in the industrial community during World War II when critical material shortages forced many manufacturers to substitute materials and designs. When the General Electric (GE) Company found that many of the substitutes were providing equal or better performance at less cost, it launched an effort in 1947 ...