A method comprising: receiving a plurality of data samples associated with a control valve , each of the plurality of data samples associated with a setpoint and a position of the control valve at a time interval, characterized in that the setpoint comprises a target position of a valve stem associated with the control valve and the position comprises a measured position of the valve stem associated with the control valve ; determining , via a processor , a first subset of the data samples that are in a control zone associated with normal operation of the control valve ; determining , via a processor , a second subset of the data samples that is not within the control zone associated with normal operation of the control valve ; in a case that the second subset of the data samples are determined, via the processor , to be (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to a minimum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints less than their associated positions, then indicating an alert associated with a low obstruction, wherein a low obstruction indicates a decrease in a setpoint while a position of the control valve does not decrease; and in a case that the second subset of the data samples are determined, via the processor , to be (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to the maximum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints greater than their associated positions, then indicating an alert associated with a high obstruction, wherein a high obstruction indicates an increase in a setpoint while a position of the control valve does not increase. receiving a plurality of data samples associated with a control valve , each of the plurality of data samples associated with a setpoint and a position of the control valve at a time interval, characterized in that the setpoint comprises a target position of a valve stem associated with the control valve and the position comprises a measured position of the valve stem associated with the control valve ; determining , via a processor , a first subset of the data samples that are in a control zone associated with normal operation of the control valve ; determining , via a processor , a second subset of the data samples that is not within the control zone associated with normal operation of the control valve ; in a case that the second subset of the data samples are determined, via the processor , to be (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to a minimum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints less than their associated positions, then (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to a minimum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints less than their associated positions, then indicating an alert associated with a low obstruction, wherein a low obstruction indicates a decrease in a setpoint while a position of the control valve does not decrease; and in a case that the second subset of the data samples are determined, via the processor , to be (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to the maximum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints greater than their associated positions, then (i) not in the first subset, (ii) close to the maximum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints greater than their associated positions, then indicating an alert associated with a high obstruction, wherein a high obstruction indicates an increase in a setpoint while a position of the control valve does not increase. <EOS>