VSM (Value Stream Mapping)

It is one of the most effective tools from the Lean Manufacturing stream. It allows us to quantify every process from its origin to its final stage as final product, namely a manufactured product, service or administrative process.

It mainly works by describing, quantifying and tracing the process under evaluation through 3 different states:

  • Current state: A study in detail of each operation within the current process is carried out, where the % of added value and the % of NOT added value are quantified, separating the later from the activities of NOT added value but necessary to the final operation.
  • Future State: Once analyzed and mapped the current process is broken down into activities where there is NO added value to the "deliverable", namely a product, an administrative process or a service. These NO added value activities are analyzed using Pareto diagrams, fishbone diagrams, brainstorming and other Lean tools in order to identify areas for improvement.
  • Ideal State: The ideal state is conceived as long-term improvement where the potential improvement in the absence of NO added value activities is quantified. This ideal state normally counts on investment in technology.

«Simplify, standardize and design bearing in mind the user»

Edgar Aznar
Founder and Manager Associate of Gamma Management