Page 170 - Design for Six Sigma for Service (Six SIGMA Operational Methods)

Value Engineering 143

Different categories of verbs and nouns are used to express the work and
sell functions. A work function is always expressed by an action verb and a
measurable noun that establish a quantitative statement. A sell function is
always expressed by a passive verb and a nonmeasurable noun that establish
a qualitative measurement.

The following tables provide examples of work functions and sell functions:

Work Functions

Verb Noun Unit
Collect Payment Dollar

Remove Kidney Time and/or cost
Transfer Fund Dollar/time
Sell Assets Dollar/cost

Sell Functions
Verb Noun
Increase Beauty

Improve Style
Increase Prestige

The separation of work and sell functions helps us to define a function more
precisely. In defining the work function, the use of measurable nouns
provides us with a quantitative means of measuring the work functions.
Work functions provide use value. In the case of sell functions, since they
are in most cases subjective in nature, their measurement is extremely
difficult. Sell functions usually provide prestige value to customers. The
separation of work and sell functions can also help us to identify the pro-
portion of cost allocated to use value and prestige value.
All functions can also be divided into two levels of importance, basic
functions and secondary functions. The basic functions are those functions
that fulfill the primary purpose for a product or service. Secondary functions
are those functions that do not directly fulfill the primary purpose of the
product or service but support the primary purpose. The result of function
determination should be a completed function list as illustrated in Table 7.6.