ABSTRACT
Both Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Value Engineering (VE) have unique attributes and perspectives for process improvement. In some circumstances, VE techniques are better equipped to lead to improvements or solutions that complement those identified through a Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control/Design for Six Sigma (DMAIC/DFSS) approach. VE does not take the place of LSS efforts, but it does present significant opportunities to enhance LSS-developed options. Therefore, it would be a good idea to augment LSS training to include the VE approach to function analysis, creativity, and associated elements of evaluation and development to identify candidate solutions as part of the Analyze and Improve phases of DMAIC. As far as DFSS is concerned, VE tools should be explicitly used in the process. They should be used in the Analyze phase of Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify to construct function views of the product or process to identify customer priorities and determine functional requirements.
