Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Value Technician | Value Engineering & Cost Reduction Specialist

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

EngineeringManufacturingSupply ChainQuality Assurance

🎯 Role Definition

The Value Technician is a key contributor to our company's profitability and product competitiveness. This role serves as a bridge between engineering, procurement, and manufacturing, focusing on the systematic analysis of products and processes to achieve maximum value. You will be responsible for identifying and implementing cost-reduction opportunities without compromising function, quality, or customer satisfaction. By leading value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) initiatives, you will directly influence product design, material selection, and manufacturing methods to ensure we remain a leader in the market.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Manufacturing Technician / Process Technician
  • Junior Mechanical or Industrial Engineer
  • Quality Assurance Inspector / Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Value Engineer / Value Engineering Manager
  • Cost Engineering Manager
  • Product Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Process Engineer
  • Supply Chain Analyst / Procurement Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Spearhead and facilitate Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) workshops and brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to generate a robust pipeline of cost-saving ideas.
  • Conduct comprehensive product teardowns and functional analyses to deeply understand component interactions, manufacturing processes, and core functions.
  • Perform detailed cost analysis on bills of materials (BOMs), manufacturing processes, and overhead to pinpoint primary cost drivers and areas for financial improvement.
  • Develop and maintain detailed cost models for new and existing products to support data-driven decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Collaborate closely with the R&D and Design Engineering teams to influence new product designs, promoting Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
  • Investigate and validate alternative materials, components, and technologies that offer equivalent or superior performance at a reduced cost.
  • Partner with the Procurement and Supply Chain teams to identify, qualify, and negotiate with new suppliers for cost-effective components and services.
  • Champion cost-reduction projects from conception through implementation, tracking progress, documenting savings, and reporting outcomes to senior leadership.
  • Analyze manufacturing processes, including labor, tooling, and equipment, to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements, waste reduction, and automation.
  • Create and present compelling business cases for proposed design or process changes, clearly articulating the expected ROI, risks, and implementation plan.
  • Review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation to ensure a thorough understanding of product requirements.
  • Utilize Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) diagrams and other value engineering tools to systematically evaluate the value of each product function.
  • Manage a database of cost-saving ideas, prioritizing initiatives based on potential impact, feasibility, and required investment.
  • Conduct competitive benchmarking by analyzing competitor products to identify best practices in design, material usage, and manufacturing techniques.
  • Support failure analysis and root cause investigations, providing insights on how design or material changes could improve product reliability and value.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for value analysis and cost estimation processes to ensure consistency and repeatability.
  • Act as the primary technical liaison between engineering and finance for all matters related to product cost, variance analysis, and savings validation.
  • Prepare and deliver regular, detailed reports and presentations on the status of VA/VE projects and their financial impact to key stakeholders.
  • Stay current with industry trends, emerging manufacturing technologies, and new materials to continuously feed the innovation and cost-reduction pipeline.
  • Validate proposed changes through prototyping, testing, and pilot runs, ensuring that quality, performance, and safety standards are maintained or exceeded.
  • Drive a culture of continuous improvement and cost-consciousness throughout the organization by actively promoting value engineering principles.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Value Engineering (VA/VE) Methodologies: Deep understanding and practical application of value analysis principles, including function analysis, FAST diagramming, and workshop facilitation.
  • Cost Modeling & Analysis: Proficiency in creating detailed, bottom-up cost models for components, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
  • Bill of Materials (BOM) Management: Ability to navigate, analyze, and deconstruct complex BOMs within ERP/PLM systems.
  • CAD Software Proficiency: Competency in viewing and interpreting 2D/3D models using software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Creo, or similar platforms.
  • Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma: Solid knowledge of continuous improvement principles (e.g., Kaizen, 5S, Poka-Yoke) to identify and eliminate waste.
  • Material Science & Manufacturing Processes: Broad knowledge of common materials (metals, plastics, composites) and manufacturing methods (e.g., injection molding, CNC machining, stamping, casting).
  • Product Teardown & Analysis: Hands-on ability to deconstruct products, identify components, and assess their function and manufacturing method.

Soft Skills

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset: Excellent ability to dissect complex problems, use data to draw logical conclusions, and develop innovative solutions.
  • Communication & Presentation Skills: Capable of clearly and concisely presenting complex technical and financial information to a wide range of audiences, from technicians to executives.
  • Negotiation & Influence: Skill in persuading stakeholders and driving consensus towards a common goal, even without direct authority.
  • Inquisitive & Detail-Oriented: A natural curiosity to understand "why" things are done a certain way, combined with a meticulous attention to detail in analysis and documentation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate's Degree in a technical or engineering-related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
  • Certified Value Specialist (CVS) or similar professional certification is a significant plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing, engineering, or cost-analysis role.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience leading or participating in formal VA/VE events and projects.
  • Proven track record of identifying and implementing multi-million dollar cost savings.
  • Experience in a high-volume assembly or fabrication environment (e.g., automotive, consumer electronics, industrial equipment).
Explore More Careers