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When PFV Is Not a Fit
Every serious method has limits. PFV is not a substitute for technical competence — it is a way to understand the flow of work when outcomes are delayed by queues, handoffs, dependencies, and rework.
PFV does not help when…
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The process is already fast
If lead time is short and queues are empty, there is no hidden time to recover. Optimizing a fast process changes little.
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No authority to act
Visibility without authority to change the process produces insight no one uses. Mapping is only useful when someone can act on it.
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The issue is purely technical
A misconfigured tool or a code defect needs engineering — not flow analysis. PFV does not replace technical fixes.
Knowing when not to use a method is what makes it credible.