The Department of Defense (DOD) announced winners of the fiscal 2013 Department of Defense Value Engineering Achievement Awards today. During fiscal 2013, the department executed in-house value engineering proposals and accepted contractor-initiated value engineering change proposals producing a combined actual savings and cost avoidance of $5.5 billion.

Value engineering is DOD's effort to continually analyze defense organizations, facilities, and processes to achieve essential functions and products at the lowest cost consistent with required performance, reliability, quality, and safety. Value engineering contributes to the department's overall "Better Buying Power" initiative, which seeks to streamline operations, improve quality, and reduce or avoid costs.

"Affordability is an enduring principle of the department and value engineering helps to deliver more capability at reduced cost to the taxpayer," said Alan Shaffer, principal deputy, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. "Both DOD civilians and our contractors use value engineering to identify and implement innovative ideas that provide the department better solutions at lower cost."

The Value Engineering Achievement Awards Program provides an incentive for government and defense industry partners to improve the value of weapon systems and programs by promoting innovation and creativity. The department selected award winners in five categories: program/project, individual, team, organization, and contractor. In addition, the department awarded "Joint Service and Special" awards to recognize innovative applications or approaches that expand the traditional scope of value engineering.

The individuals and teams recognized for their value engineering activities can be found here.