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Abstract
Value Stream Mapping, or VSM, is a technique used in the practice of lean manufacturing. Hand-drawn VSM maps are not always effective communication tools. Maps must sometimes be converted to PowerPoint for presentation and approval - a non-value-added process. I developed a VSM template in Arena. This template allows the user to create maps in Arena, which can be pasted into presentations, but are also working simulation models. These models can be used to validate the findings of the mapping effort and to experiment with changes to the value stream. I applied this template to a recent, highly successful VSM effort.
Keywords
Lean, Value Stream Maps, Simulation
1 Introduction
Value Stream Mapping, or VSM, is a potent tool for the practice of Lean Manufacturing, the discipline of eliminating waste from manufacturing systems. However, value stream maps can be misunderstood by nonpractitioners, making it sometimes necessary to transcribe them. Transcribing maps is inherently non-value added and therefore aggravating to committed lean practitioners.
In order to make transcription more valuable, I developed a simulation modeling template for VSM which allows the user to develop presentation quality graphics while simultaneously building a working simulation model of the value stream. This paper reviews value stream mapping, explains the simulation model template I developed and illustrates its utility by citing a real world example of its use.
The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 provides a review of lean manufacturing and the role of VSM. Section 3 includes a description of VSM technique and iconography. Section 4 describes the motivation for this work - the transcription of value stream maps. Section 5 introduces the VSM simulation model template. In Section 6, a simple transcription activity is described. Section 7 features a real world application of the template to a value stream in an electronics manufacturing facility. The paper concludes with Section 8, a summary of the material above and a brief discussion of future work based on the VSM template.
2 Background
Lean is a management philosophy whose goal is the elimination of waste. Waste is broadly defined as any activity that does not create value for the customer. The first step in many lean initiatives is to take an inventory of all of...