Value Stream Mapping Information | Clarity Lean Specialists

VSM or Value Stream Mapping is the starting point for continuous improvement and a cornerstone in Lean thinking. VSM is used to diagram visually every step involved in the material and information flows required to enable a product from order to delivery. Value Stream Mapping allows you to see the whole process, both current and future state and means that you can clearly see opportunities for improvement as part of your CI programme.

The value stream is all the actions, both value-adding and wasteful, which are required to bring a product from the raw materials to the hands of the customer. A value stream map creates a picture of all the flows within the production system, including both material and information. This helps to identify the current state and the possible future state and identify improvement possibilities. It helps to identify bottlenecks and also ensures that we look at improving the whole process, and don’t do un-coordinated local Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) activities without looking at how it affects the whole.

Visual management tip:

Do your staff know where they fit in your value stream and who are their upstream and downstream internal customers?

Why not show a snapshot of where the team fits in the value stream on their specific department/cell level visual management board…?

Why use the VSM Value Stream Mapping technique?

Allows you to see the whole process and identify waste and bottlenecks
Shows opportunities to improve the system
Quick and easy to learn technique
Creates the basis for understanding the process and thus implementing Lean

For a detailed look at the benefits of the VSM Value Stream Mapping technique and how it can be implemented in your business why not speak to a specialist today

Meet with a specialist