Page 171 - Design for Six Sigma for Service (Six SIGMA Operational Methods)

144 Chapter Seven

Table 7.6 Function List

Project Name: Scope Includes:
Scope Does Not Include:

List All Functions Function Types
Verb Noun Basic Second Work Sell Remarks
1.

2.
3.
4.

Example 7.3: Pencil Function Determination
Figure 7.1 shows a pencil. A pencil has five parts: lead, body, paint, band and eraser.
In value engineering, it is a rule of thumb that even a very simple product such as a
pencil will have quite a few functions. It is easier to figure out a pencil’s function by
looking into its five parts. Table 7.7 gives a summary of functions performed by the
parts of a pencil. Table 7.8 gives a function list for the whole pencil.

Example 7.4: Function List of Oakland County Youth Assistance Program
This example is a continuation of Example 7.1 (Reeve 1975). In that example
we listed all the organizational activities that support a youth assistance
program and their cost calculation. Reeve (1975) determined 41 functions in
this program. Table 7.9 lists a portion of these 41 functions.
Reeve also provided a glossary of functions, which gives a detailed definition for
each function. In a value-engineering project, it is highly recommended that such
a glossary be developed and that consensus be secured from group members on
the definition of each function. Therefore, in later discussions, every team
member will be on the same page when each function is discussed. Here is a
portion of the glossary of functions for this youth assistance program project:
Identify Need Time spent in written and oral communication, that is,
conferences, letters, interviews, etc., with school personnel and/or other

Lead Body
Paint Band Eraser
Figure 7.1 A Pencil