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Value Stream Mapping Definitions
- The Value Stream represents the actions taken to
bring a product into existence, from the raw material stage
to the finished good stage.
- It can be extended to the design aspect, from concept to
launch.
- It can look at the big picture, across different plants
or it can be restricted to the operations in one facility,
even one department, as a starting point.
- The Value Stream Map is a pictorial representation of
the flow of material and information as the product is being
built.
Training in VSM
For training take a look at the
Value Stream Mapping PowerPoint Presentation, part of the
Lean Thinking Series. It is a very useful training tool, and it
can be used in conjunction with the Lean Lego Boat Simulation,
as it uses the Lego example to build the current and future
state maps.
Advantages
- VSM helps us visualize better the flow without being
limited to the single-process level.
- It is a powerful tool in identifying waste.
- It forms the basis of an implementation plan.
- It shows the linkage between material flow and the
information flow.
- It provides a common language to talk about manufacturing
processes.
- It is a communication tool.
- It is a business-planning tool.
- It is a tool to manage the change process.
- VSM helps us see and focus on flow with a vision of an
ideal or improved state.
The Value Stream Manager
- The VSM process needs one person with lead responsibility
for understanding a product family’s value stream and improving
it, the value stream manager.
- The manager should report to the top person on site.
Generate the VSM
- Choose a product or product family
- Depict the customer requirements
- Follow the flow of the product from shipping to the raw
material stage
- Draw the processing steps used to process, move and store
the product
- Input the process and inventory data
- Draw the information flow
- Draw a time line depicting the lead time
Generate the Future State Map
- Calculate the Target (Takt)
- Time Produce at your Takt Time
- Develop continuous flow wherever possible
- Use supermarkets to control production
- Determine the pacemaker process
- Level the production mix
- Level the production volume (Paced withdrawal)
- Ability to make every part every day

Achieving the future state
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