In virtually any value adding process, throughput time can dramatically be improve since 95 to 99,5% of the time is non-value adding..

Lots of transfer points (one desk to the other) can be eliminated.

Historically grown processes can become transparent, fast and more stabile by taking out the identified losses.

Issue

Improvement

Throughput time

50% - 90% faster

Transfers

90% less

Output errors

90% - 100% less

Value added time

If the time stays the same, quality of output goes drastically up. For the same output, the VA time sometimes can go down 25% or more.

Opportunity 

The time that has become available can be reinvested in the addition of extra value - things we would like to do, but did not find the time for - or it can be used for new loss-reduction activities.

 

In this way the negative spiral of 'starvation due to cost-cutting' can be turned around in 'profit growth due to becoming better and better' -in other words real continuous improvement.