A Value Stream Map is considered one of the most powerful tools in Lean. It allows businesses to create a visual representation of every step in a process, as well as the details involved in every task within those steps. But rather than just listing these areas, Value Stream Mapping also involves assessing whether these tasks are value-adding or non-value-adding.
Value is determined by whether the task supports creation of a product that best meets customer requirements. It is relatively simple to construct; yet extremely powerful in enabling teams to visualize waste. It’s like being given a pair of glasses.
Value Stream Mapping also helps organizations achieve some of the biggest strategic goals in Lean, including eliminating costs, saving time and creating products that better serve customer needs.
Value Stream Mapping projects often start with a Kaizen event that focuses on setting the parameters of a project and developing goals for both analysis of how the business currently manages the process and the outcomes expected after implementing improvements.
Project teams start by creating a current state value stream map that provides details on how a process is currently accomplished. They focus on finding anything that falls within the Eight Wastes of Lean. They include defects, overproduction, excessive transport, over-processing, wasted motion, excessive inventory, waiting and underused talent.
Teams then create a future state value map that shows how the process will work once it’s streamlined. They consider issues such as Takt time, workflow improvements, and reducing excess inventory.
Value stream mapping helps businesses:
- Assess where the organizations wastes both time and money
- Easily visualize the end-to-end workflow of a process
- Have a common tool to refer to when discussing a process
- Make better decisions as everyone can clearly see the flow of a process
- Use a solid blueprint on which they can base improvement plans
- Understand how every step of a process interlocks to create the final product
