Good question! Value-Added Steps pass the 3 customer-focused criteria:
- The customer is willing to pay for it (cares)
- Transforms the item toward completion (something changes)
- Done right the first time (not an inspection/rework step).
If it does not pass all three criteria, then the step is either Non-Value-Added or Non-Value-Added but required (NVA-r). The Value-Added Analysis is a technique that lets you look at the process through the eyes of your customer. It’s that external perspective that helps us see the potential waste in the process since NVA steps add to the cost of doing business.
