The biggest cost in a company is wasted time, resulting in wasted costs. This is often due to inconsistent and inefficient processes required to get the job done.

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a valuable initiative used to identify and analyse the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a customer. The value stream is visual representation of all the activities required to bring the product/service into the arms of the customer.  It is essentially managing your company’s production activity and information systems.

The tool originated in Toyota’s lean manufacturing as ‘material and information flow mapping’, used to understand and streamline workplace processes.

VSM looks at the production path from customer to supplier, showing every process from customer request, acquiring raw material, through to assembling the product and into the customer's hand. A Value Stream Map will enable you to see value and non-value activities and identify the sources of waste in your business production.  The objective of VSM is to ensure decisions are made which will improve the production flow.

Characteristics of a Lean Value Stream:

• Smooth and continuous flow without detours
• Shortest lead time and fast changeovers/set-ups
• Highest quality and
• Lowest cost
• No inventory piles
• Operations in close proximity to each other
• Short cycle times
• Reliable processes

Value Stream Mapping is used in Lean workplace environments, to determine opportunities for improvement in lead time.  The tool is often applied in manufacturing companies and is also used in logistics, supply chain, service and healthcare industries.  INTENT recognise the high value of VSM in developing lean manufacturing strategies.  If you would like us

We will assist you by firstly mapping your overall production process, and then map the information flow that enables the process to happen.