Value Stream Mapping
What is Value Stream Mapping?
Value Stream Mapping is a tool used to create a material and information flow map of a product or processes. This powerful tool allows companies to map the flow of products in the back door as raw material, through all manufacturing process steps, and off the loading dock as finished product. This is the Value Stream. You begin the journey with the current state map - it shows you where you are. Then, you plan your Lean journey with a future state map - it shows you where you're going and how you're going to get there. Based on your Value Stream Map, you can streamline work processes, thereby cutting lead times and reducing operating costs.
Benefits:
- "See the flow" of your value stream and wastes in the flow
- View all products from a system perspective
- Break down barriers between departments - or foster communication between departments
- Draw both material and information flows of your value stream
- Draw a blueprint for Lean transformation - the Future State Map
- Prioritize activities needed to achieve the Future State
Successes
An industrial machinery and equipment company used Value Stream Mapping to begin its Lean implementation. Their Lean initiative so far, has managed to reduce operating overhead costs by 25 %, increase throughput by 50%, and save a projected $32,000 in paperwork each year - and much, much more.
A fabricated metals products company implemented Lean with Value Stream Mapping and was quickly able to identify and eliminate wastes that have already reduced scheduling, purchasing, and supervisory time. They expect even more results as they implement Lean company-wide.
For more information, please contact CAMT at 303.592.4087 or fill out our contact form here.