A New Process for Product Improvement & Innovation

This book presents, for the first time, a new technology for improving products and

innovating new and better products, first developed in Japan by Yoshihiko Sato.

Value analysis tear-down combines traditional tear-down with the technologies of

value analysis and value engineering. Within a few years of its public announcement

in Japan, value analysis tear-down was adopted by all eleven Japanese automobile

manufacturers, and many of the Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers. Jerry

Kaufman, based in Houston, Texas, is a recognized authority and author on value

engineering and value management, and has contributed much that is in these

technologies to the process described in this book. The result of his collaboration with

Mr. Sato is a process that helps engineers and managers reduce product cost, improve

quality, continuously improve existing products, and discover opportunities for innovative

The first "how-to-do-it" book in English, it is written specifically for professionals in product

engineering, manufacturing engineering, and value engineering; and the managers of these

professionals, including plant managers, production managers, manufacturing executives,

and research and development executives. It will also be useful to manufacturing, marketing,

and management people concerned with product improvement, innovation, and improving

their company's competitive position. Value analysis tear-down can be applied in many

service and other industries, as well as in manufacturing; wherever there are physical

VA Tear-Down What Is It, How It Developed

Value Analysis and VA Tear-Down

The VA Tear-Down Process

Applying VA Tear-Down to Issues of Concern

Evaluating VA Tear-Down Results

Other Measures Of Competitiveness With VA Tear-Down

Summary

Bibliography

Appendix Worksheets

Index