Value Stream Mapping and what it can bring to the table

In today's economic climate, so many companies are looking to cut waste from their operations. This is particularly the case with manufacturers, as there are typically a number of ways processes can be streamlined to reduce waste and maximize efficiency.

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is one such technique that businesses can use to envision and improve the flow of inventory and information. VSM was originally conceived by Toyota, which called the process “material and information flow mapping.” It has quickly become a centerpiece in the language of Lean manufacturing and is used in a variety of companies to help bolster efficiency throughout operations.

Through VSM, businesses can glean a better end-to-end picture of various work processes. This helps them map how information and materials flow through all related business tasks, from the very moment of conception (the creation of material, a customer order, etc.) to the end of the line (finished product, delivery to customer, etc.).

By using VSM, companies “can clearly identify steps where no real value is added, or where there's a bottleneck – and thus, you can eliminate these types of waste,” Mind Tools adds. “Your original Value Stream Map becomes the baseline for improvement initiatives that eliminate no-value, wasteful activities.”

Creating a VSM

Value Stream Mapping is as simple or complex as businesses need it to be. It's a process that revolves around identifying waste, so obviously companies shouldn't waste time developing overly complex templates unless they need to.

Creating a VSM boils down to five principles: Specifying value from the perspective of the end customer, identifying the value stream for products, mapping out the product flow from end-to-end, noting where the customer comes into the picture and then managing processes to perfection.

Manufacturers can use different symbols to help create their VSMs. For example, a customer/supplier icon represents the end point for the VSM, while a dedicated process flow icon may suggest a specific operation through which the product flows. Using these various icons and graphics enables companies to visually map workflow and operations, which makes it easier to quickly identify wasteful and necessary processes.