Advanced Value Group, LLC

James (Jim) A. Rains, Jr., CVS, got his start in value analysis in 1980 as a workshop participant. At that time he learned about the power of value analysis, mainly because he applied it first hand to a project, and implemented numerous design proposals that improved the quality of the product, while at the same time achieved a significant cost reduction.

Credentials:

Facilitated over 750 teams in value analysis, value engineering, tear down and/or lean concepts. Jim is the author of the new book Target Cost Management: The Ladder to Global Survival and Success. He has published numerous articles in publications around the globe, and has presented papers in the Canada, China, Hungary, Japan, Mexico and the United States. He has conducted workshops and seminars in Austria, Australia, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Qatar, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Jim has led teams in all types of value projects, including product design, process improvement, strategic planning, organization structure, manpower planning, planned maintenance, quick set-up, procedure and system improvement and product development processes. Jim has successfully facilitated numerous construction oriented value engineering projects.
After studying the target costing concept (in the USA and Japan), for over twelve years Mr. Rains has developed a two-day target costing seminar that introduces this concept. After being fully trained by Mr. Yoshihiko Sato in the Japanese method of competitive tear down, Jim has conducted several successful tear down workshops for his clients.
Mr. Rains is a Life Member of SAVE International (IIE).
He earned his Certified Value Specialist (CVS) in 1988 and became a Life CVS in 2000.
Service to SAVE International - elected as Executive Vice President ('98 - '99), President ('99 - '00), Immediate Past President ('00 - '01), Regional Vice President ('91- '93), and Southwestern Ohio Chapter President ('90 - '91). He currently acts as the SAVE liaison to the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
At the May 2002 SAVE International Conference in Denver, Colorado he was awarded entrance into the distinguished organization known as the College of Fellows.
Received a Presidential Citation Award from the Society of Japanese Value Engineering in Tokyo in 2001. This award is presented to only those persons who have promoted international cooperation in value engineering, especially with Japanese practitioners.
Currently serves on the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Chairman of the Lawrence D. Miles Value Foundation. This service started in 1995.
Has been recognized in Hungary for outstanding VE activity and endorsed Hungary's first VE book translated into English.
Earned the "Excellence in Value Engineering Award" from SAVE International for Delco Products (Division of General Motors) in 1991.
Served as the Chairperson of the General Motors Corporate Value Management Committee.
Served as an Administrator of the SAVE International Certification Board
Received 2003 National Leadership Award and named as Honorary Chairman of the U.S. Government Business Advisory Council representing the State of Arizona

Other credentials:

Has BSIE Degree from Kettering University (formerly General Motors University)
Has a Masters in Industrial Administration from Central Michigan University
Worked for General Motors for over 31 years, mostly in Industrial Engineering type capacities. GM career included working in Rochester, NY, Dayton, Ohio and Warren, Michigan. Work activities allowed being highly participative in GM assembly plants throughout the world, and now Delphi component plants across the United States.
Was recognized throughout General Motors as an expert in indirect labor. His efforts to improve material flow, method improvements and labor measurement processes has resulted in over $50,000,000 of annual savings.
Has extensive knowledge of lean manufacturing principles (elimination of waste) and has facilitated numerous lean manufacturing workshops that have made significant improvements in productivity, floor space, lead-time and inventory reduction. These workshops require highly skilled facilitation skills and the ability to lead people far outside of their normal comfort zones. Has a unique ability to walk factory floors and identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reduction. This skill coupled with software tools and lean knowledge offers significant process flow improvements and lead-time reductions, which result in improved profits and cash flow.

Advanced Value Group