Information Phase
Creative Phase
Analysis Phase
Development Phase
Presentation Phase

Our experience on value engineering studies includes projects throughout the United States and includes all types of projects. This includes schools, community colleges, universities, We assemble an independent team of professional architects and engineers to execute specific tasks with specialists available in required areas. We maintain a network of professionals throughout the United States which includes experts in every discipline, and all geographic locations. Our staff includes value engineering experts who can lead and/or participate as team members fully dedicated to providing quality value engineering services. Our unique and innovative approach provides clients with the flexibility to focus on a variety of project issues and meet budget constraints. The return on investment (ROI) of a typical study is in excess of 15:1.

C3MG workshops are conducted in accordance with the methodology established by SAVE. Our continued education in value engineering and related services keeps our staff at the forefront for current trends and extensive cost control information and systems to focus our efforts targeting high and low areas of cost. We provide cost estimate reviews and analysis to generate very powerful and useful cost information for all disciplines. This includes cost models, cost comparison reports, life cycle costs, building systems breakdown, and other cost reports and graphics to answer all questions regarding cost. In addition, we maintain on-line with our cost database during studies to quickly and easily provide cost information throughout the workshop.

Studies are tailored to meet the specific goals and objectives set forth by the owner and design team. Typical C3MG studies consist of the five-step job plan as follows:


THE PROCESS!

C3MG has developed a unique and innovative approach that is proven and highly effective to organizing and developing VE studies and constructability reviews. Although every project is different and has its unique elements, each C3MG workshop follows this basic pattern of events with additional elements integrated throughout to meet specific goals and objectives.

Prestudy Preparation

To effectively utilize all the time available for a successful VE study, the preparation of materials and agenda needs to occur prior to the actual VE workshop. C3MG's prestudy preparation for the VE study includes meeting with the owner and design team, scheduling of select consultants with specific tasks, videotaped site visits (if possible), gathering project information and understanding the goals and objectives of the project. We compile this information in a variety of formats and graphics for use during the workshop. C3MG, a specialist in project cost control, will provide cost estimate reviews or independent cost estimates, develop cost models, cost comparison reports, life cycle costs, and preliminary construction schedules as additional resources for the team. We analyze operations and maintenance costs, equipment, materials, crew rates, and most cost-effective construction delivery methods.

Develop Cost Model

C3MG is a firm which specializes in providing detailed and accurate cost information. Our nationally certified cost engineers combined with state-of-the-art computer technology has enabled our firm to generate extremely powerful and useful cost information to allow owners and the design team to make proactive design management decisions. The primary tool is a detailed cost model. C3MG will develop a cost model of project costs breaking down the project into systems for narrower cost ranges and more usable information. This information is crucial to targeting both high and low areas of costs to determine optimum areas for opportunity.

Select Team

Based on the information gathered and preliminary meetings with the owner and design team, specific issues and concerns can be identified with specific team members selected to address these topics. This enables C3MG to select a team with very specific tasks to maximize the time and budget available. Choosing the right team is critical to the success of any study and must include an experienced team leader, an experienced team based on a thorough understanding of the owner's goals and objectives, and must be able to work closely and effectively with the design team. This provides as the catalyst for a dynamic team and successful workshop.

Other team members may be selected after further review of the project goals and objectives and preliminary meetings with the owner and design team. This team will include technically sound and experienced experts in specific disciplines covering all necessary areas of a project. The number of participants will be determined from the types of expertise required and level of owner/user staff participation. Input from the owner and design team will be encouraged to help determine the team structure. This may include specialists in civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, architectural, landscape, geotechnical, etc.. In addition, members from the owner's staff who are intimately familiar with the operations and maintenance or programming issues for the proposed project may be involved. This team will have the ability to work closely and effectively with the project design team to clearly express ideas and their overall impacts to the project. Working productively with the owner and design team is crucial to the success of any workshop.

Project Presentations/Questions and Answers

C3MG will request that the owner and design team present the project to date. This will include the original project goals and objectives, current status, programming, level of design completion, areas of concern, etc. This will provide the opportunity to clarify project issues, answer questions, and provide a forum to identify various project functions.

Site Tour

After the project presentation, a site tour may occur to further discuss project issues, understand current site and building conditions, and provide an opportunity to begin to explore alternatives.

Define Goals

Definition of project and workshop goals is based upon the owner and design team's goals and objectives.

Team Building

The team will begin discussing the project, share insights and concerns, and begin the process of furthering a creative and innovative team. This is also an opportunity for the team leader to focus the team's energies and adhere to workshop parameters.

Functional Analysis/Project Review

The C3MG team will further review the project based on the information gathered and experience with the project to date. This will include current program and design documents, specifications, technical reports, preliminary costs, etc. Our team will begin functional analysis to completely understand the program and desired functions of the facility, as well as look at constructability issues. We develop Functional Analysis Systems Technology (FAST) diagrams as a tool to help answer questions. Our team will continue to focus this effort throughout the process to explore value-added design alternatives and/or cost-effective solutions. In addition, we explore areas for potential claims or risk associated with the design and construction.

Cost Model Focus

C3MG will utilize the project cost model and C3MG historical cost data to target areas within the project that require further investigation. The cost model will target high and low cost areas - areas of greatest opportunity. C3MG will also review similar projects as a form of quality assurance and develop cost comparison reports.

Creative Brainstorming

The C3MG team will spend more time together to creatively brainstorm various ideas for cost-effective and innovative design solutions. The team records all possible ideas of providing the necessary functions within the project at a reduced cost to the owner, or with an improvement to the quality throughout the life of the facility (life cycle costs). Throughout this brainstorming phase, every idea will be considered without judgment. The team will embark upon hundreds of ideas to explore every possible scenario and any association of ideas to further expand the possibilities. These items are reviewed again at a later phase for validity.

Judgment/Ranking

C3MG will prioritize and rank each idea from the creative brainstorming session to determine which ideas have the greatest impacts on cost, schedule and design, considering both advantages and disadvantages for value-added solutions.

Develop Preliminary Selection of Suggestions

The C3MG team will develop a preliminary list of suggestions. These suggestions will be ranked and prioritized for presentation.

Present Preliminary Selection of Suggestions

C3MG will present the preliminary list of selected ideas, along with a complete list of all the ideas, to be reviewed and considered by the owner and design team. This will provide an opportunity to clarify any issues and provide another opportunity to further learn and discuss the project. Also, this will provide another opportunity to further incorporate ideas that were not chosen in the preliminary selection, discard ideas that may not be of interest to the owner, and confirm the preliminary list of suggested ideas.

Idea Development/Report Preparation

C3MG completely develops each selected idea incorporating all descriptions, costs, sketches, and overall project impacts. Each selected idea describes the original concept, proposed recommendation (change), a brief discussion of project impacts (pros and cons), detailed cost estimate of original vs. proposed changes, life cycle costs, O&M costs, and potential cost savings with sketches, if necessary, to clearly illustrate the design concepts. This is drafted during the actual study by a project coordinator to expedite the report development process. This also enables our team to continue brainstorming to maximize their time available and does not waste time and resources of professionals performing clerical functions.

Post Study

The post study is unique due to the expeditious format and approach employed by C3MG into each study. No further need to review ideas, respond to comments or suggestions from the owner and design team is necessary because this has been promoted throughout the development of the study. The post study is a quality assurance program for C3MG providing an opportunity for feedback from the owner and design team. recorded for future reference. This unique and innovative approach enables C3MG to further evaluate and continue evolving the process.

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