To identify and eliminate or reduce activities within a process that do not add value from the customer’s perspective.
- Methodologies: Engineering, Product Design, Project Management
Non-Value Added Analysis

Non-Value Added Analysis
- Continuous Improvement, Efficiency, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Production, Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Value Analysis, Value Engineering (VE), Waste Reduction
Objective:
How it’s used:
- Involves mapping a process and classifying each step as Value-Added (VA), Non-Value-Added (NVA), or Necessary Non-Value-Added (NNVA). The goal is to eliminate NVA activities and minimize NNVA activities.
Pros
- Focuses on customer value; Reduces waste and improves efficiency; Simplifies processes; Can lead to significant cost savings and shorter lead times.
Cons
- Can be time-consuming to analyze processes in detail; Determining what is truly "value-added" can sometimes be subjective or context-dependent; Requires a deep understanding of customer needs.
Categories:
- Lean Sigma, Manufacturing, Problem Solving, Quality
Best for:
- Streamlining processes by systematically identifying and removing activities that do not contribute to what the customer is willing to pay for.
Non-Value Added Analysis finds its application across a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and information technology, where process optimization is critical. In manufacturing settings, this methodology can be employed during production planning phases to identify inefficiencies in assembly lines or supply chain workflows. Healthcare organizations might utilize it to evaluate patient care processes, helping to eliminate unnecessary steps in patient admissions or treatment protocols, improving care delivery while reducing costs. Similarly, in the context of software development, Non-Value Added Analysis can guide teams in refining their coding and testing phases, ensuring that only activities contributing directly to the software’s functionality are prioritized. Typically, this analysis is initiated by project managers or process improvement teams, bringing together cross-functional participants such as engineers, designers, quality assurance professionals, and stakeholders to ensure various perspectives are considered. Workshops or brainstorming sessions can facilitate a collaborative identification of non-value activities, where participants can share experiences and suggest improvements based on real-world observations. This collective effort not only enhances buy-in from relevant teams but also aids in capturing comprehensive insights into operational inefficiencies, driving a more effective and waste-reducing culture. Through these processes, organizations can effectively shorten lead times and improve service delivery, aligning their operations more closely with customer expectations and willingness to pay.
Key steps of this methodology
- Map the current process with detailed steps.
- Classify each step as Value-Added (VA), Non-Value-Added (NVA), or Necessary Non-Value-Added (NNVA).
- Identify NVA activities and document their impact on the process.
- Explore potential improvements for eliminating NVA activities.
- Assess NNVA activities and determine methods to minimize their impact.
- Implement changes to optimize the process based on findings.
- Review and verify the effectiveness of the new process.
Pro Tips
- Utilize a value stream mapping tool to visualize dependencies and identify bottlenecks that obscure the value-added flow.
- Engage cross-functional teams during the analysis to ensure diverse perspectives highlight overlooked NVA activities.
- Implement regular review cycles post-analysis to adapt and refine the process based on evolving customer needs and feedback.
To read and compare several methodologies, we recommend the
> Extensive Methodologies Repository <
together with the 400+ other methodologies.
Your comments on this methodology or additional info are welcome on the comment section below ↓ , so as any engineering-related ideas or links.
Related Posts
Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires
Multivariate Testing (MVT)
Multiple Regression Analysis
Motion Capture Systems
MoSCoW Method
Mood’s Median Test