Value Stream Mapping
Description:
A value stream (VSM) is the series of steps that occur to provide a product, service and/or experience the customer desires. The map includes: the amount of potential opportunity the manufacturing operation must produce more product, the amount of variation the final product had relative to customer specifications, the amount of customer specification consumed by measurement system error, how well data is used to manage the production processes, and where processes could be modified to reduce inefficiencies. Samples of product quality are reviewed with standard statistical protocols to understand how well the product complies with the customer specifications. This statistical analysis includes checking for data stability and normality of the data, and then calculating capability indices. Measurement systems evaluations are requested to understand the degree of precision and accuracy the systems used to run the processes and to measure the final product quality.
Value stream mapping is great for companies that are new to continuous improvement – and also for those companies who have not visited a value stream map in several years. The value stream map always shows opportunities to close gaps in your organization’s performance because it shows your process ‘horizontally’ – as if you were the actual widget or service.
Here is the generic approach we follow:
Build a detailed SIPOC map / select the right VSM
Define customer requirements – TAKT
Define equipment (OEE)
Define inventory
Map: Build process flows
Map: Build information flows
Map: Build the shipping & logistics information
Map: Create the time line
Complete the current state map
Prioritize opportunities
Map: Build the future state map
Build the 12 month plan
No one understands the entire system. There could be a hundred problems. Where should we start? What do we solve first?
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
VSM is the strategic tool of tying improvements together to build a break-through future state.
The VSM is one of the few tools that shows strategic linkage to a list of projects. The VSM shows managers ‘where’ to focus to improve their business. Here is a great test question:
If you gave your managers, rhetorically, $ 100K to make improvements, would they pick the same projects to work on?
If you don’t have a VSM, chances are they would go to many different locations in the business (not good.) With a VSM your team can see the overall picture – and where priority needs to be placed – which will lead your managers to the same location to make targeted improvements.
Duration:
3 days SCO
8 days RUN
2 days Evaluate
Typical Outcomes:
- Current state map
- Future state map
- List of prioritized opportunities
- Gantt chart of implementation schedule
- (Optional: Write and load projects into project pipeline database)
- (Optional: Build names & 2 key focus areas for your employees on our certification matrix)
