Lean

Value Stream MappingVSM

A pencil-and-paper method for visualizing material and information flow to expose waste and design a better future state.

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a visual technique for drawing the current-state flow of material and information across an entire value stream, capturing process data, inventory, and lead time at each step.

The map reveals where waste, queues, and disconnects live, and is then used to design a leaner future-state map with flow, pull, and leveling — plus an action plan to get there. It is often the first step of a lean transformation.

Go Deeper
Value Stream Mapping guide→Lean Manufacturing guide→
Related Terms
Value Stream
All the activities — value-adding and not — required to bring a product from raw material to the customer.
Value-Added
Activity that transforms a product in a way the customer is willing to pay for — everything else is waste or necessary non-value-added.
Lead Time
The total elapsed time from order (or raw material) to delivery (or finished product), including all waiting.
Flow
The smooth, uninterrupted movement of material and information through a value stream with minimal stops or queues.
Spaghetti Diagram
A visual tracing of the physical path of a product, person, or material to expose wasted motion and transport.
8 Wastes
The eight categories of waste lean targets: Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-utilized talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Extra processing.

Put Value Stream Mapping into practice

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