Time Shifts and Causality

When there is a time delay between cause and effect we tend to make incorrect assessments of causality. If the input and response are discrete (digital) a late response can cause us to assume there is no causal relationship. If the input and response are analog a late response can cause us to assume the transfer function is different, usually lower, than it really is. How do we eliminate time lags? By reducing WIP. Lean product development permits us to do this.