My Journey in Value Engineering

My journey with Value Engineering (VE) began in 1978–79, when the Vice-President & CEO of Escorts Ltd., makers of the iconic Rajdoot motorcycle, asked me to expand the company’s nascent Value Engineering Department. At the time, I was heading the R&D Department and openly admitted that I knew little about VE. He assured me that training would be arranged, and soon my name was registered for evening classes three days a week at the Billimoria School of Value Engineering, located at Delhi’s famous Ashoka Hotel in Chanakyapuri.

Balancing long work hours with evening classes — while my wife and young daughter waited at home — was challenging. Yet, my passion for learning and my desire to master this new discipline kept me motivated. Along with two junior colleagues, I conducted several VE case studies that successfully solved chronic design and manufacturing issues and saved the company significant costs.

One early breakthrough came from a special bolt in the engine crankcase that frequently broke, causing expensive engine repairs. Through a small but clever die-casting modification, we eliminated the bolt altogether and solved the problem permanently. This success was publicly appreciated by the Vice-President and General Manager (Manufacturing) in front of the entire senior team — a proud and defining moment in my career.

                                                                  Challenging Years and a Turnaround (1982–1990)

From 1982 to 1987, my professional assignments left little room for VE activities. But in 1987, I joined a new company as Head of R&D with a mandate to improve and expand its engineering initiatives. I recruited an engineer and set up a small one-man VE cell, supported occasionally by colleagues.

The first year was financially healthy for the company, but in the second year, business challenges arose — many customers cancelled their registrations, and the company began losing money. One evening at a dinner party, the Managing Director (MD) asked me, in front of several senior executives, to deliver ₹1 crore of cost savings within the next eight months of the financial year.

I requested a week to study the situation. After analysis, I presented VE proposals worth ₹1.25 crore in potential savings. The MD immediately approved them, promised personal support, and even visited the R&D building the next day for a full-day technical review.

The VE team was expanded, and everyone worked day and night. By the end of March, the Finance Department confirmed ₹80 lakh in implemented savings, with several other projects still in progress. The entire team was formally appreciated and rewarded — a milestone moment that proved the power of structured Value Engineering to drive real business impact.

                                                                    Becoming a Certified Value Specialist – Life (1995 onwards)

Encouraged by these results, I pursued professional certification under the guidance of my mentor Mr. S. S. Venkatramnan (Life CVS). In 1995, I successfully earned the Certified Value Specialist (CVS) credential from the Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE International, USA). Four years later, after submitting a comprehensive record of my VE work, I was awarded the prestigious CVS–Life designation.

Since then, I have:

• Led numerous VE projects across industries.

• Trained and mentored engineers and managers in VE methodology.

• Delivered technical papers at national and international conferences.

• Served actively in the Society of Indian Value Management (SIVAM), including technical leadership roles.

• Continued to teach and promote VE online during the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping knowledge-sharing alive when in-person training was not possible.

For me, Value Engineering has never been just a cost-cutting tool — it has been a lifelong mission to innovate, eliminate waste, and create measurable business value.

                                                                         Workshops, Trainings & Corporate Programs Conducted

• Satyam Ventures Ltd., Hyderabad – 5-day workshop

• Indo–German Tool Room, Indore – 5-day workshop

• Railway Staff College, Baroda – 3-day workshop

• CPWD Training Centre, Ghaziabad – One-day training

• National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad – One-day training

• ACMA Western Region, Mumbai – Introduction to VE

• CEO’s Forum, INVEST Northern Region – Introduction to VE

• International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi – One-day training

• Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi – Introductory program

• Caparo Maruti Ltd., Gurgaon – Introductory program

• Century Auto Engineering, Gurgaon – Introductory program

• Hyderabad Industries Ltd., Faridabad – Introductory program

• Faridabad Industry Association, Faridabad – Introductory program

• GE Motors (India) Ltd., Faridabad – Introductory program

• Saw Pipe Ltd., New Delhi – Introductory program

• Schenck–Avery – Introductory program

• Relaxo Footwear Ltd., New Delhi – Introductory program

• S.B.C. Ltd., Sahibabad – Introductory program

• Monto Motors Ltd., Alwar – Introductory program

                                                                                                   Conferences & Papers

1. INVEST Conference, New Delhi (1979):
   Paper – “Value Engineering in Automobile Industry” – Award Winner

2. SIVAM Conference, Bangalore (Jan 1989):
   Paper – “Value Management: A Problem-Solving Technique” – Best Paper Award

3. SIVAM International Conference, New Delhi:
   Chairman – Technical Committee (organized, edited, and published technical papers).
   Paper – “VE Case Study: Front Fender”

4. Railway Staff College, Baroda (June 2001):
   Conducted a 3-day VE workshop (certificate awarded).

5. CVS Certification Board – INVEST:
   Assisted in the CVS certification process.