FAST Creativity & Innovation is a landmark work authored by the creator of the method called Function Analysis Systems Technique (FAST) and pioneer of value engineering and value analysis. FAST is a powerful mapping technique that can graphically model goals, objectives, strategies, plans, systems, projects, products, processes, and procedures in function terms to identify function dependencies by organizing them into a cause and effect relationship. This technique quickly brings clarity to whatever situation or problem it is applied and greatly enhances productive thinking, creativity, innovation, and complex problem solving. Some of the basic concepts of FAST have been used for several decades in value engineering, which focuses on decreasing costs, improving quality and increasing value and profits. Derivatives of this original method such as fishbone diagrams, theory of constraints and process mapping came into use in fields such as quality management, new product development, manufacturing, and supply chain and project management. However, despite these developments, many of the original FAST concepts were either overlooked or misunderstood as greater opportunities for success remained untapped. FAST Creativity & Innovation groups all the original concepts together in great detail so you can learn them using easily understood step-by-step examples developed by the creator of this method. The creator and author, Charles Bytheway, presents a procedure that standardizes the method for creating FAST diagrams and function trees for rapidly improving processes, innovation, new product development and value engineering, and for effectively solving a wide variety of complex problems quickly. After reading this book you will have gained not only the basic skills of using this method, but the original insight of its developer for mastering its use in any environment. This guide is an outstanding tool for use in industry, a variety of college courses and for value engineers.
About the Author: Charles Bytheway was the first recipient of the Lawrence D. Miles Award by the Society of American Value Engineers (now SAVE International) for his creative development of FAST diagramming. He has published 19 papers on FAST diagramming and related subjects and has been quoted in numerous professional publications. Mr. Bytheway graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering in 1952 and a MS in mechanical engineering in 1961. Shortly before receiving the second degree, he earned his value engineering certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a Fellow of SAVE International and until retiring in 1981, Bytheway served as the Director of Value Engineering in Salt Lake City. Early in his retirement, he worked with a team which performed value engineering consulting on new construction for the Universities of California at Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego. He has since started the mechanical engineering department at Salt Lake Community College.