The Power of VSMing

Nothing beats the power of a
Value Stream Map (VSM).

It's really a combination of tools:

• a process map


• an inventory tracking chart


• a timing chart


• a project management tool

Each of these contributions is significant, but it's greatest effect is really team-building. Each member of the VSM team, sees their core process, the same way, at the same time. It produces incredible synergy, which marks the beginning of team members starting to move a common direction in their efforts, toward a common goal.

This map, as you can see, was done by hand, with the spray team, right in the spray shed. Folks passing by stopped to see what was happening, and often stayed to give input. People love talking about their processes, (and as management, we should love to hear about it.)


You might not be able to see it as well, but the process blocks in pencil, are planning activities.


The best part- team members defined each of their activities from the customers' perspective: Each activity was labeled:

• green- value added,
• yellow- non-value added but necessary,
• red- waste.

Labeling each activity is exciting because team members are learning to see their activities from a customer perspective. Seeing a distinction between hard work and activities that have been developed over the years vs. what the customers values is the beginning of real process improvement.

The map above is the current state process. When then walked through the Value Stream Questions to define our improvements, and will soon build a future state VSM. The VSM will act as a baseline, or skeleton, upon which all or future measurements and controls will rest.

VSM - what a tool!