Lean Manufacturing & Operations worked example

Value Stream Lead Time with total value-added processing time of 1 days: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop total value-added processing time to 1 days, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate total value stream lead time by summing processing time, queue time, and transport/wait time across all process steps from order to delivery.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Total value-added processing time: 1 days (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 2)
  • Total queue and wait time: 12 days (held at the documented default)
  • Total transport and other non-value time: 3 days (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Value Stream Lead Time = Processing Time + Queue Time + Transport/Other Time.
  • Total value stream lead time (days) works out to 16 days at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Element 1 works out to 1 days at these inputs.
  • Element 2 works out to 12 days at these inputs.
  • Element 3 + 4 works out to 3 days at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where total value-added processing time sits at 2 days and the headline result is 17 days, this scenario comes in 5.88% below the baseline at 16 days.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to total value-added processing time, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It assumes a single, linear flow with additive stage times and does not model parallel paths, shared resources, or variability in queue times.

Results at a glance

  • Total value stream lead time (days): 16 days (headline result)
  • Element 1: 1 days
  • Element 2: 12 days
  • Element 3 + 4: 3 days

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Value Stream Lead Time calculator, set total value-added processing time to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.