Defense Department Presents Engineering Awards

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Kenneth Krieg presented the annual Department of Defense Value Engineering Achievement Awards during a ceremony June 15 at the Pentagon. Value Engineering is a systematic process of function analysis to identify actions that reduce cost, increase quality, and improve mission capabilities across the entire spectrum of DoD systems, processes, and organizations. The Department of Defense Value Engineering Program continues to be an incentive for government and our industry counterparts to improve the joint value proposition by promoting innovation and creativity. These innovative proposals seek best value solutions as part of a successful business relationship. During fiscal year 2005, 3,047 in-house Value Engineering Proposals and contractor-initiated Value Engineering Change Proposals were accepted with projected savings/cost avoidance in excess of $924 million.

The Value Engineering Awards Program is a highly visible acknowledgment of exemplary achievements and encourages additional projects to improve in-house and contractor productivity. Award winners from each DoD component were eligible for selection in the following five categories: (1) program/project, (2) individual, (3) team, (4) organization, and (5) contractor. Additional “special” awards were given to recognize innovative applications or approaches that expanded the traditional scope of value engineering use. Today’s awards were presented to the following Navy individuals or teams in the categories noted: Program/Project - Torpedo Downloader System Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.I. Team - Sustainment Engineering Team Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Organization - Airborne Electronic Warfare Division Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Special - Dahlgren AEGIS Lean Events Team Special - Ordnance Engineering Department – PM 10 Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Source: U.S. Department of Defense