The Value Engineering information site

2001 and 2002 Conference Comment Details

The comments we received were helpful and reflected a professional group of people. Below are edited comments (to maintain privacy, correct identified spelling errors, etc.) sent in as a part of the survey. If we missed one, please let us know and accept our apology for the oversight. The statistical data for the poll is also available.

2002 Wish List and Comments

Find the VM champion as speaker; don't know who that is. Perhaps someone from the oil and gas industry (might try to coordinate through [names removed].)

Tickets to a Rockies Game. More opportunities for eating away from the main venue as was the case in New Orleans and San Antonio.

An awards banquet again and again and again and again and

More networking time. Papers with meat in them. Also, please cut down the length of time for the Award Ceremony... it was an ordeal in Florida and many people walked out early.

Value Method used for improving organisational processes. Practical use of FAST in this context. Examples of Brainstorming sessions, idea generations and process for choosing and developing these.

Whatever you put on for the conference in 2002 is OK by me.

There was some momentum generated in terms of the academic input to Mod 1 & 2. This should not be lost. I believe that some selling is needed amongst US Construction Management Depts. For some reason this is a conference they do not go to.

The conferences have too many papers presented by people that are truly clueless about the power of value engineering. We are accepting papers from individuals that are using it as an opportunity to attend the conference or as a way to market themselves.

A powerful keynote speaker that is booked well in advance of the conference so that we can advertise who he/she is.

Papers that describe what was done during a study, that was new or unique, and what was actually accomplished - like $ saved, or schedule shortened by x%, etc. I have lost interest in going to our conferences when the majority of papers are philosophical and theoretical.

I cannot think of anything at present - I guess that the 2001 conference was a good model so far as I was concerned.

More booths!

A session on the procurement or management of VE services. More interaction on what the customer buying VE services needs. More information on VE and IT projects and using value management to manage change. A FAST diagram from the perspective

1. A nice spouse program needs to be continued. 2. The social session on Tuesday should have had meat and vegetables rather than just desserts. The menu for such an event should be published ahead of time so that the attendees can plan accordingly. '3. Make sure that correct information is given out about the various activities. The SBO had given incorrect information about the dinner cruise. Some conference attendees were told that the cruise had been canceled! A larger boat could have been made available were a decent advance notice been made.

More State Highway Agencies.

I think you should invite related businesses from around Denver to participate in the Social Session without paying a fee. They could set up booths on different training, related software, computer products, books, facilitation materials, etc.

A variety of tracks so that I can pick and choose which sessions to attend. I recently attended the AASHTO VE Conference in San Diego and it was excellent. Excellent agenda, excellent facilities, excellent keynote speakers, fun social event, great sessions.

Lots of tech sessions, and training sessions prior 2 days, to get more output from $ input attending conf. 3 Rooms with simultaneous tech sessions worked very well. Made lots of sessions available to choose from.

Stronger technical papers that help improve the VM practice and the profession.

A shorter, more concise luncheon on TUESDAY, instead of Monday to encourage more people to stay for the Wednesday sessions. Wednesday attendance has been very poor in the last couple of years.

Hands on value workshop of how one should prepare a workshop from beginning to end as oppose to using a lot of buzz words, acronyms and invogue terminology

Presenting and posting what has been done, what is planned, VM successes and soliciting new ideas on: 1. Increasing Growth of our Society, and 2. Expanding the use of VM applications.

Good Technical sessions dedicated to the real VE methodology and not all other stuff.

No more awards. But seriously, they need to be reduced / shortened or whatever.

For the conf. to be held during ski season. Half the fun of a conference is enjoying the venue/local. If the by-laws/constitution limit the timing of conferences - change the by-laws.

How to calculate salvage value, and life-cycle analyses. ISO standards for what should be required in a VE study.

A student sponsored event to attract students to the conference. We either grow new professionals through current students, or die a slow death.

An expanded social program that allows/encourages mingling for pleasure and business discussion.

Outside speakers - topics of interest in performing VE studies - problem solving, meeting management, conflict resolution, etc.

Too many different sessions are being offered in past conferences. If it is possible to change the format of conference that same sessions would be offered two or three times, more people can attend these sessions.

Possibly put the forums earlier in the program? Also, perhaps a tighter agenda on the awards luncheon (or schedule more time).

Awards Dinner Evening Banquet reinstated. It was the "glue" for many years in prior Conferences. Chance to renew old acquaintances & develop new ones. Spouses who attended, came also to see what SAVE was all about. The luncheon recognition dinner was (a problem).

1. Examples of VE methods that provide excellent results. 2. Chance to meet and talk to VE experts.

Either US Senator from Colorado.

Get a good newsworthy keynote speaker. One of the Colorado US Senators, at a minimum. That should give you some media coverage. If you need help to do this, ask me and I'll help. Good luck, all the best [name removed].

More examples emphasizing function analysis.

Real networking. For consultants and potential clients.

More users of VM. Adaptations or innovations in the use of VM. VM as a means of achieving organizational objectives (success stories with lessons learned).

New ideas. Pointers to new opportunities and ways to help us form relationships to investigate them.

As many networking opportunities as practical.

Information on how others in SAVE followed up on their recommendations. Specifically, did they find out what recommendations were accepted? I would like to make VE more effective by learning how to track recommendations and determining what kind of recommendations are being made

I have communicated my concerns to others in the society.

Rockies Game, Less painful award lunch.

Ideas for implementing VE in a company that is not sold on it. How to change the image of VE--It's not just cheapening the products. 'There needs to be a major effort into getting new companies to attend the SAVE Conference. We're singing to the choir. Send out invitations to specific people of specific companies. The attendance at the Conference has stayed relatively stable over the last few years. It should be growing.

A conference location with a decent hotel that is affordable.

Case studies of manufacturing companies transitionng from Cost Savings mode to Value Engineering mode, and how management was "trained" to invest in long term benefits vs. short term results.

Useful papers.

The New Orleans conference had a forum with client participants telling why they used VE. It included Abbott Labs, Textron-Lycoming and Praxair. That forum impressed me. Perhaps something could be done to tell why Signode Strapping is still using VE after all these years.

A better variety of speakers -- although I know that is tough to execute.

Additional Comments

Make a special effort to get local newspaper coverage. I say this as a former reporter of the Denver Post 1949-50; and their Paris-based foreign correspondent from 1950-52. Talk to the publisher and make your pitch for the value of what you do in VE.

I think you might be shorting our keynote speakers by referring to the opening session as the Darth Vader session. And not mentioning the Tuesday general session at all. But perhaps I am more attuned to this. (Ed. Many mentioned the session at the conference but did not identify it as the initial session, hence, the "help." Also, queries for many other sessions were not requested to make the poll shorter. The original draft was more than 30-questions and it was felt that was too long to get good participation.)

I appreciate the fact that the poll exists and that you have made this effort. It will only get better each year.

Social activities such as hiking or scenic opportunities would be good (from my perspective).

I have a hard time justifying going to both SAVE and AACE conferences. I am glad the conferences are no longer at the same time, but there is certainly overlap in the VE sessions, and the total cost management viewpoint of AACE is important.

I am really pleased to see this type of initiative being undertaken to plan the conference. I hope that it is a great success!

Hosting a conference is a tremendous amount of work - Good Luck!! Hope you receive a number of helpful responses to this survey.

My compliments go to all those who commit their time and energy to the conference preparation and events. I appreciate the degree of effort and quality of the programs.

Promotion of the methodology - what makes it work best, how can we keep it working, more specialized training on organization start ups, and basic tools.

The uniqueness of VM is Function Analysis and the Job Plan: We should convey this more. Ensure our hotel keep their word on rates. Apply/use pareto to determine the number awards to be presented against the time allowed. Thanks for asking my opinion.

Nothing I can put my finger on, but getting younger involved is important. Same old crowd controls. The Federal Government has put VE on the back burner even with new legislation requiring it. The Federal Conference was well attended, but most of those attending did not attend the SAVE conference.

Try something completely different. Fewer days, combine with other associations, mix up presentations. Better technical sessions.

The last conference I attended was 1999 in San Antonio. Prior to that, 1997 in Seattle. I felt there was a considerable improvement in the 1999 over the 1997 conference. I thought the technical sessions were greatly improved. I'm looking forward to Denver.

Look at who is presenting papers. Mostly they are people fairly new to SAVE and VE. They mostly present some case study which is interesting to the other new people but is the same old stuff to the VE veterans. We keep repeating the same message year after year.

I can't attend conferences every year. This time I have submitted a paper. If it is accepted, usually, my company will pay the travel. If not, I will drive and present my paper. I will probably attend if my Co. will pay for my time.

Speedup the awards. Spread over the Monday/Tuesday luncheons. DO NOT read the information provided in the program... make it more personal. Try to have award recipients present. It is embarrassing when they are not.

The breakout sessions where you're able to meet others and find out what is going on in the industry are also key elements of the conference.

Obtain more participation in exhibits even if it means reducing the cost to people who want to exhibit.
Thanks to the Rocky Mountain Chapter for sponsoring this survey.

Conf is very expensive, which is why most folks limit to a few days & full week. (Am hoping 2 of us can attend.) Travel expenses are always high, and conf. too. I enjoyed the social events and networking opportunities with SAVE folks that I had communicated with.

The conference is an excellent opportunity to maintain and create business contacts.

HAVING ONLY ATTENDED THE SEATTLE CONFERENCE I FOUND THE WHOLE EVENT TO BE EXTREMELY INVIGORATING AND OF GREAT BENEFIT IN SHARING IDEAS OF OTHER PRACTITIONERS.

Will help in anyway I can.

Move conference to off-season.

I really resent that I have complained for two years now that membership is discounted if you pay at the same time as you register for the conference, but not if you pay in a timely manner (in October). Perhaps I should hold off paying until the spring?

I'm looking forward to the conference.

SAVE needs to acknowledge that old economic views are on their way out. We should have sessions about knowledge management, real options, corporate governance and so on. We need to be attracting both business managers and project managers.

I am looking forward to the Denver conference. It is in a great location location with lots of social activities.

Hope we can get improvement

No longer attend because job will not pay or give time off to attend.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

I am not able to attend next year's conference. I am responsible for my own expenses. So, I cannot afford to attend next year's conference.

I recommend that we change the name of the spousal program in order to welcome other guests/partners. How 'bout calling it a Guest Program?

Other Item Most Attracting To Conference

I still feel it was a good session.

Forum, D-B & VE and Certification Forum

Dinner cruise

Government

Saturday & Sunday prior to Conference -Specialty Training

Tech sessions and training sessions

Discussing and debating in the bar. The conversations were alive and the interaction meant all were participants

The Module II

Also training sessions & Federal VE conference

Location, location, location

Saturday/Sunday Focus sessions -FAST etc.
Conference Location and Funding

Location and loyalty to SAVE

Pre- Saturday & Sunday Training

Friends

Training &Tech & Govt sessions

I like to catch up with colleagues, friends and new ideas in value.
TRAINING SESSIONS

Pre-conference seminars

Round Table Discussions

Interesting in finding out what goes on at the SAVE Conference.

Meeting people who are Value Engineers as mentioned, Evening Banquet & Presidents Reception

Opportunity to network

Federal VE Conference which follows

Opportunity to network with others

Comments About The 2001 Conference

Get a more distinguished keynote speaker

I thought it went well. The hotel was pricey for what they had to offer, and considering the season.
I enjoyed the conference. Fortunately we rented a car so the somewhat remote location wasn't too much of a problem. 'In the future, the location/layout and timing of various events needs to be communicated better. It was good to have the Government VE session as well integrated as it was - when do we get a proceedings for those sessions?

Overall the conference was excellent, but the awards luncheon was too long and drawn out. Plus I believe this luncheon should be on Tuesday, instead of Monday to improve attendance for the Wednesday sessions.

I am sure that Laurie will not hand so many Presidential Citations. Everything else was great.

The conference was quite reasonable. The surroundings were nice. There was a noticeable improvement in presentation format. Less preaching about those who have been involved for a number of years. Change is a good thing.

Two of our representatives went to the conference, and they benefited a lot from it.

Awards luncheon was too long and drawn out.

Overall the conference went fairly well. If the budget allows, we should seek to get top level keynote speakers, even if it means paying for their travel and time. Also, additional vendors should be actively sought.

Visual& Audio equipment, There was some delays in sessions due to either shortage or malfunction equipment.

Awards luncheon was ridiculous. The initial session inappropriate. We at [name removed] have been trying value engineering out and I am not impressed with the conference. Paid for the week and left at noon. I don't need desert that bad.

Most of the papers at the 2001 conference were self-serving. I have attended all of the SAVE conferences and I usually improve my knowledge of Value Analysis by doing so. In 2001 I did not. Approve only papers which focus on the performance of the process.

I thought that the conference was good (4th that I have attended) - I think that we should try to encourage more client organisations to attend, and perhaps more international members. I was very impressed with good organisation of the conference, even while I am not over enamored with the Awards Luncheon. We should perhaps do a function analysis of the luncheon and of the awards and question whether they should be put together! Many people openly are reluctant to stay.
Although the location was excellent, the over all add-on fees by the hotel was outrageous.

Good. Somewhat pricey, but that is beyond your control. Social on Tues could have been accomplished at a lower cost with something besides just sweets. A BBQ would have been nice, even if it was not at the hotel itself.

I felt the conference was very good overall, but it seemed that many attendees had departed by Wednesday morning and consequently missed some good forums and presentations. Possibly put the forums earlier in the program? Also, perhaps a tighter agenda.

The classes prior to the conference are a plus. Classes in facilitation, and creativity are helpful. This conference was well run, an improvement over San Antonio (I did not attend Reno).

Diversity of attendance - more owners/clients

The overall conference was very nice. The location while very nice was too far away from the cities to participate in activities there.

Out of the four conferences I've attended, this one was the best. The atmosphere (of the VE attendees, not the hotel necessarily) was comfortable and warm. There seemed to be less pomp and more concern for VE continued survival. The opening session was good.

Overall the conference was good. During the awards luncheon we could improve time-keeping, and limit the number of awards. Perhaps the greatest disappointment was the Hotel offering one rate and then charging another rate; it was not ethical.

2001 was a good conference.

Too many sessions that speaker did not have good command of English. Mostly our fault for not writing papers. There were too many conflicts for the construction industry sessions that made it impossible to attend.

My favorite conference was New Orleans. Phoenix also stands out. But all have been good in their own way. I don't believe each has to outdo the other. I do think each can have a unique area to focus on and try to excel in that area.

Technical sessions were good, the Government session was the best. It seems the conference spends more time preaching to the choir than getting our true message to the outside world. If SAVE is to be world class we need to find a way to get companies that

Liked the conference. Not that impressed with the facility. Thought the "Darth Vader" skit was unneeded.

Overall it was fine. But some of the technical session speakers weren't very good public speakers. Plus I'd like to see more variety (e.g. challenging VM) & more basic VM material.

I felt that the papers / forums were not quite up to what they have been in the past.

There were some excellent technical sessions probably as a result of good refereeing. The humor of Darth Vader probably does not appeal to all cultures represented at an international conference. The academic forum was useful to me but where were the University people?

1. More "how to" sessions to assist with development of VM skills, versus "look at what I've accomplished" 2. Make handouts available for sessions that you cannot attend because of overlap scheduling

Focus the awards toward outstanding VM achievement, improvement of the process and expansion of the society.

Attended the 2000 conference and was disappointed with sessions and exhibit hall participation. Most or all sessions dealt with industrial or manufacturing applications. Would like to see more municipal VE applications and case studies. Exhibit Hall pa

Arrived 2 days early to attend 2 training sessions. One was excellent, and second was below my knowledge level.

The conference was good and well organized. Let's spread the awards out over several luncheons and maybe one or two biggies for the dinner....if we have one. But please do not bunch them up, unless no-one is allowed to give a speech! As always it is the

Conference is scheduled during busy months; I prefer off-season.

Technical sessions which teach skills and techniques should NOT be concurrent. I missed some discussions which really appealed to me, and then there were times when nothing appealed to me.

Fair, Need to focus more on the Construction industry regarding Value Engineering.

Very well. The schedule needs to be followed. Reduce conflict among tracks (fewer tracks more days) Forums good for user areas(Industry, Government, Construction, etc) Could use forums for advanced learning or new techniques.

It proved to be very expensive and so I have to explain to my funder why such a large cost delivers value to him. The total cost of the conference could have sent four academics to alternative conferences in the UK. The way to make improvements is to think

More economical Lodging costs. Why should Government employees get better rates than the private sector? This practice is hard to justify & has been going on too long.

I liked it a great deal. The biggest challenge came because the general sessions ran late and impacted the scheduling of the technical sessions.

I don't need sweets that bad. Will not return.

1. The Value Man skit needs to be eliminated. It is not appropriate. I appreciate the energy and the creativity of the players, and I like them all - a lot! - but it's not meant for the opening session - maybe lunch if at all. 2. The president needs to control the awards.

Poor quality of service for a convention center. Also, I believe that a greater cross section of the industry needs to be represented. If, government agencies did not mandate VE studies, what would the attendance look like? It seems to me that the past conference were better service.

No so many schedule changes on site is appreciated.

We need more break and social time to network with others. Also, the papers need more MEAT in them... consultants who give papers are reluctant to tell exactly how they do things. Little take-home value.

The 2001 conference was my first. I was a little overwhelmed. However, I did enjoy the new member orientation.

The 2001 Conference was my first conference ever! I really have no benchmark for comparison. I liked the variety of technical sessions available to people in different industries.

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