Value Stream Mapping - VSM
Map a value stream from end to end, measure its lead time, spot the inventory and waiting that inflate it, then draw a target state at takt time and turn it into a dated roadmap.
This course is intended for team leaders, shop floor managers, methods technicians and continuous improvement facilitators who want to carry out a complete diagnosis of a line or a product family before launching improvement projects. It requires no prior knowledge of VSM.
By the end, you will know how to define the scope of a map, collect the right data on the shop floor, draw a current-state map with the standard symbols and the timeline, calculate the lead time and the value-added time / lead time ratio, identify the inventory that weighs the most, then build a target-state map based on takt time and pull flow and turn it into a dated action plan. Every step is done with a sheet of paper, a pencil and a stopwatch: the map is drawn by hand, as a team, from what you have seen and counted yourself.
What you will be able to do
- Choose a product family and set the scope of a VSM: start point, end point, a single flow.
- Collect the data for a current-state map on the shop floor: cycle times, changeover times, work in progress, availability, information flow.
- Draw a current-state map with the standard symbols and the timeline, then calculate the lead time and the value-added time / lead time ratio.
- Identify on the map the inventory and waiting that weigh the most on the lead time and link them to a cause.
- Build a target-state map based on takt time and pull flow, and turn it into a dated roadmap with measurable success criteria.
The path
- Choosing the product family and closing the scope 4 min
- Collecting data on the shop floor, walking upstream along the flow 5 min
- Draw the current-state map and calculate the lead time 5 min
- Reading the map: finding what inflates lead time and why 4 min
- Drawing the target-state map and turning it into a roadmap 4 min
Prerequisites
Know the manufacturing sequence of at least one product in your shop, from receipt of materials to shipping. Be able to read a work order and a schedule. No knowledge of VSM or Lean symbols is required; the concepts of waste (Muda), takt time and pull flow are defined in the course.
The closing quiz
The topic ends with a 7-question quiz, and a certificate is issued on success.