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Value: What Is It?
Value in Lean terms is always determined by the customer. And you can’t just guess, you need to ask. Lean is about getting information from the source, from the Gemba, and determining Value is no different.
When mapping a Value Stream, it is important to note whether a process step is:
- VA: Value Add
- NVA: Non-Value Add
- NVAR: Non-Value Add but Required
NVAR steps might be something that doesn’t add value to a customer or the end product, but is required for regulatory approval.
A Value Stream is how a process flows from start to finish as it delivers value to the customer.
By David McLachlan
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