Value engineering is a systematic method to improve the "value" of goods or products. When applied to structural design, the structure being designed is a product. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost. Value can therefore be increased by either improving the function or reducing the cost. For structures, the desired functions are well defined by design standards and hence value engineering primarily targets equivalent performance for lower cost.
For building projects 35 % and for infrastructure projects almost 80 % of the project cost goes to structural work. Structural cost optimization through value engineering helps to bring down the project cost to a great extent. In this context, value engineering is an integral part of structural designing and focus is always on to design a safe and yet economical structure.
This is achieved through,
