FUNCTIONS AND FAST DIAGRAMS LEARN TO THINK “FUNCTIONESE” Ginger R. Adams, CVS®-Life, IAF-CPF®, FSAVE Principal, Advantage Facilitation Services

About the Presenter • In VE/VA, and SAVE member, for 30+ years • CVS® since 1990 • President of SAVE International 1994-1996 • Sole Proprietor WBE since 1995 • Certified Professional Facilitator (IAF-CPF®) since 1996 • Facilitated more than 200 VA/VE studies • Facilitated consensus-building, communications

improvement, and dispute resolution workshops, design and planning charrettes, strategic planning sessions

VE Study JOB PLAN Phases • INFORMATION PHASE • FUNCTION ANALYSIS PHASE • CREATIVE PHASE • EVALUATION PHASE • DEVELOPMENT PHASE • PRESENTATION PHASE

Origin of Value Analysis • LAWRENCE DELOS MILES (l904-1985)

• 1938 • “DOESN’T ANYONE IN G.E. CARE WHAT THINGS COST?”

• 1941 – 1945 • CRITICAL MATERIALS WERE DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO

OBTAIN; MANY MANUFACTURERS FORCED TO USE SUBSTITUTE MATERIALS AND DESIGNS

• GENERAL ELECTRIC FOUND THAT MANY OF THE SUBSTITUTE MATERIALS WERE PROVIDING EQUAL OR BETTER PERFORMANCE AT LESS COST; BEGINNING OF EFFORT TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY BY INTENTION

• “IF I CAN’T GET THE PRODUCT, I’VE GOT TO GET THE FUNCTION.”

Development of Value Analysis • 1954 – U.S. NAVY IMPLEMENTS A VE PROGRAM • 1959 – SOCIETY OF AMERICAN VALUE ENGINEERS (SAVE)

FOUNDED • 1960 – FIRST SAVE TECHNICAL CONFERENCE • 1961 – MILES’ TECHNIQUES OF VALUE ANALYSIS AND

ENGINEERING PUBLISHED; DOD IMPLEMENTS VALUE ENGINEERING

• 1965 – PUBLICATION OF CHARLES BYTHEWAY’S PAPER “FUNCTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM TECHNIQUE (FAST)”

Function Analysis

Enhancement

VA/VE Terms • FUNCTION – THE ORIGINAL INTENT OR PURPOSE

THAT A PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO PERFORM

• FUNCTION (BASIC) – THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE(S) FOR WHICH A PRODUCT, FACILITY, OR SERVICE EXISTS AND CONVEYS A SENSE OF “NEED”

• FUNCTION (SECONDARY) – A FUNCTION THAT SUPPORTS THE BASIC FUNCTION AND RESULTS FROM THE SPECIFIC DESIGN APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE BASIC FUNCTION

Why Define Functions? • TO DEVELOP TEAM CONSENSUS

REGARDING THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY UNDER STUDY

• SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THINKING ABOUT “WHAT” OR “WHO” IN LIEU OF “HOW/WHY”

• TO SET ASIDE EXISTING PARADIGMS TO FACILITATE CREATIVITY

• TO “DEPERSONALIZE” THE CONVERSATION

How To Define Functions • TWO WORDS • ACTIVE VERB AND MEASURABLE NOUN

• AVOID THE WEAK VERB “PROVIDE” • AVOID USING THE NAME OF THE HARDWARE ITEM OR

COMPONENT

• ENCOURAGE DIVERGENT THINKING • INITIALLY, STAY AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF

ABSTRACTION • DON’T MIX LEVELS OF ABSTRACTION • DISTINGUISH FUNCTIONS FROM ACTIVITIES

What Is The Basic Function?

HANDLE/LUG WRENCH

RATCHET MECHANISM/

HOOK

BASE

STEM

Are These Functions . . . Or Activities? • LIFT CAR • HOLD CAR • LOWER CAR • TURN LUG NUTS • HOLD STEM

How About These? • RAISE LOAD • HOLD LOAD • LOWER LOAD • APPLY TORQUE • DISTRIBUTE LOAD

Think About What’s Really Happening

How About . . . “Separate Surfaces?”

What’s the Function of a Spare Tire?

What’s the Function of a Spare Tire?

What’s the Function of a Tote Box?

What’s the Function of a Tote Box?

FAST • FUNCTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM TECHNIQUE – A LOGIC

DIAGRAM RELATING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OBJECT OF THE VE STUDY

• REASONS TO DEVELOP A FAST DIAGRAM: • Clarifies project scope and “purpose and need” • Helps group reach consensus on project scope so everyone agrees

on meaning of terminology • Helps identify functions that are needed vs. wanted, and those that

are unwanted • Improves communication!

Example Of A FAST Diagram

Basic Functions

Candle Lighter Function Identification WHY? FUNCTION HOW?

IGNITE FUEL PRODUCE SPARK RUB MATERIALS

RUB MATERIALS APPLY FORCE GRIP LIGHTER

IGNITE WICK PRODUCE LIGHT IGNITE FUEL

PRODUCE SPARK RUB MATERIALS APPLY FORCE

PRODUCE HEAT IGNITE FUEL PRODUCE SPARK

Candle Lighter FAST

Basic Function

FUNCTION EXERCISE • THIS IS A

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BANFF/LAKE LOUISE REGION OF ALBERTA, CANADA

• NICE PLACE TO VACATION

• GENERATE THE FUNCTIONS OF SUCH A VACATION

Vacation FAST

RELIEVE STRESS HAVE FUN PLAN

VACATION

DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES

IGNORE PROBLEMS

ESCAPE REALITY

REMOVE PROVOCATION

RESOLVE PROBLEMS

HOW? WHY?

ENJOY NATURE

SHARE EXPERIENCE

EXPLORE UNKNOW

N

Basic Function

Wedding Ceremony FAST

UNITE SOULS

DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT

SHARE LIFE

PROPOSE MARRIAGE

INVITE COMPANIONSHIP

COMMUNICATE NEEDS

HOW? WHY?

EXPRESS LOVE

DEMONSTRATE LOVE

FULFILL NEEDS

Basic Function

Why Think in Functions? • Clarifies intent/purpose • Helps to achieve consensus • Broadens individual/group viewpoint(s) • Aids decision-making • Can help to save money! • De-personalizes the conversation • Minimizes emotion

Why Think in Functions? • LAWRENCE DELOS MILES (l904-1985)

• “IF I CAN’T GET THE PRODUCT, I’VE GOT TO GET THE FUNCTION.”

“In the search for, and selection of, alternatives, attention must be constantly focused on function and not on a material,

part, or device as such.” “Techniques of Value Analysis and Engineering” Lawrence D. Miles, 1961, McGraw-Hill, NY

Questions? Suggested Reading:

“Why Bother With Function Analysis? — written September 2006 by Theodore C. Fowler, CVS, FSAVE

(Deceased 2010)