Activity output measures are needed to compute and track non value added costs. Reducing a non value added activity should produce a reduction in the demand for the activity and, therefore, a reduction in the activity output measures. If a team's performance is affected by its ability to reduce non-value-added costs, then the selection of activity drivers (as output measures) and the way the drivers are used can affect behavior. For example, if the output measure for setup costs is chosen as setup time, an incentive is created for workers to reduce setup time. Since the value-added standard for setup costs calls for their complete elimination, then the incentive to drive setup time to zero is compatible with the company's objectives, and the induced behavior is beneficial.
Suppose, however, that the objective is to reduce the number of unique parts a company processes, thus reducing the demand for activities such as purchasing and incoming inspection. If the costs of these activities are assigned to products based on the number of parts, the incentive created is to reduce the number of parts in a product. Yet, if too many parts are eliminated. the functionality of the product may be reduced to a point where its marketability is adversely affected. Identifying the value-added standard number of parts for each product through the use of functional analysis can discourage this type of behavior. Designers can then be encouraged to reduce the non- value-added costs by designing to reach the value-added standard number of parts. The standard has provided a concrete objective and defined the kind of behavior that the incentive allows.