Achieving quality products at lesser cost --- this is the heart of value analysis (VA) engineering. The strategy involves identifying unnecessary costs that do not add value to the end product. One can do this by identifying the functions of a product; establishing the worth of the functions; and developing alternatives to establish needed functions at the lowest overall cost. VA technique is applicable in design engineering, product development, product improvement, services, processes, and systems in an organization.
More of these concepts and methods were tackled in a training organized by the PCARRD and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology. The training was conducted to equip PCARRD network member agencies and selected private agricultural machine manufacturers with the necessary skills in improving the design and manufacture of machines. It is a sequel to the training on productivity improvement through Value Analysis Engineering I held last year. This year’s training focused on applications to services, systems, and processes.
PCARRD realizes the importance of VA in satisfying the consumers’ demand for quality products that are reasonably priced. It also recognizes the manufacturers’ interest in developing highly profitable products at less operating cost. Hence, the advance VA training course was meant to capacitate agricultural engineers and instill in them the value of achieving high-quality standard and cost effective products and services.
In a message to the participants, PCARRD Deputy Executive Director Richard M. Juanillo emphasized the value of complying with quality standards and the importance of continual improvement. He encouraged them to examine the current product development systems and process and see if the Philippines can attain certain level of competitiveness that can surpass neighboring Asian countries.
The same stance was expressed by MIRDC Executive Director Engr. Arthur Luca Cruz. In his welcome remarks, Cruz stressed the Filipinos’ potential to compete with Asian countries. He underscored the need to upgrade the existing standard of doing things and how the training can help capacitate individuals for competitiveness.
Resource speaker Elenita P. San Juan expounded on VA product versus VA service, valuation of function, function analysis system technique, transactional analysis, creativity techniques, value analysis in an organization, value analysis in an enterprise, and other relevant topics. San Juan, who is also the managing director of Transformation Optimizer Professionals, Inc., engaged participants in relevant group dynamics and mental exercises which promoted teamwork and creativity.
The training culminated in the preparation of VA exercises and re-entry plans. Participants came up with VAs on the design and development of agricultural machinery, facilitation of property procurement, preparation of final draft standards for agricultural machines, and municipal solid waste accelerated composting.
Re-entry plans of participants upon return to their respective work stations include application of VA in the design, construction, and testing of spirulina-biofermentor in a village area; design, construction, and testing of a calibrated stove using a waste-based briquette as alternative fuel; and optimization of existing swine waste management system. Participants from academic institutions plan to integrate VA in academic curriculum as a special topic course. A participant committed to develop an application software to allow easy use of VA techniques in a short time. Others plan to use VA in the employee recruitment and promotion process and in office property procurement processes.
The trainees were reminded that lessons learned from the training should be applied to their workplaces, as this was emphasized by Director Rodolfo O. Ilao of PCARRD’s Agricultural Resources Management Research Division in his closing remarks.
Also, in a closing message, Dr. Danilo Pilar, Officer-in-Charge of MIRDC’s Office of the Executive Director for R&D cited the importance of VA in improving the products and services in the country. He appreciated PCARRD’s initiative in tapping MIRDC as co-sponsor of the training.
Participants were composed of agricultural and industrial engineers from PCARRD, Visayas State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Bureau of Plant Industry, Industrial Technology Development Institute, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Tarlac College of Agriculture, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, and private manufacturers ACT Machinery and Metalcraft Corporation-Isabela and Suki Trading-Cebu.