Value Stream Mapping (VSM)

Value Stream Mapping - A pencil and paper tool used in two stages. First, follow a product's production path from beginning to end and draw a visual representation of every process in the material and information flows. Second, draw a future state map of how value should flow. The most important map is the future state map.

[Category=Quality ]

Source: American Society for Quality, 28 October 2010 09:39:54, http://www.asq.org/glossary/

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Value Stream Mapping - Value stream mapping is a paper and pencil tool that helps you to see and understand the flow of material and information as a product or service makes its way through the value stream. Value stream mapping is typically used in Lean, it differs from the process mapping of Six Sigma in four ways:

   1) It gathers and displays a far broader range of information than a typical process map.
   2) It tends to be at a higher level (5-10 boxes) than many process maps.
   3) It tends to be used at a broader level, i.e. from receiving of raw material to delivery of finished goods.
   4) It tends to be used to identify where to focus future projects, subprojects, and/or kaizen events.

A value stream map (AKA end-to-end system map) takes into account not only the activity of the product, but the management and information systems that support the basic process. This is especially helpful when working to reduce cycle time, because you gain insight into the decision making flow in addition to the process flow. It is actually a Lean tool.

The basic idea is to first map your process, then above it map the information flow that enables the process to occur.

[Category=Data Quality ]

Source: iSixSigma, 03 March 2011 09:04:48, https:web.archive.org/web/20111109014246/http:www.isixsigma.com/index.php?option=com_glossary

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Value Stream Map (VSM) - a visual tool used to document the flow of products or services through a system. A value stream is all of the actions required to change raw materials into a product delivered to the customer. The VSM differentiates the value-adding activities of a system from the non-value-adding ones. Recording the time taken for each activity shows what percentage of valuable time an object or person spends in a system. Any non-value-adding time indicates an opportunity for possible improvement within the system. The VSM shows the process flow from order to delivery and includes - a) information & material flow, b) product throughput & cycle times, c) resources utilized, d) value added times and e) location of significant waste.

[Category=Quality ]

Source: The Quality Portal, 29 April 2011 10:13:03, http://thequalityportal.com/glossary/s.htm