Lean Value Stream Mapping Concept

The characteristics of a Lean company, as described by Jim Womack and Dan Jones, are that an organisation banishes wastes and creates wealth in the organisation. Womack and Jones draw attention to the significant amount of waste that occurs in organisations and it has been proven time and again that the systematic attack on waste, both within companies and along supply chains, can have tremendous benefits to the profitability, responsiveness, flexibility and long-term prospects of organisations.

Five lean principles are utilised by organisations following the philosophy of Lean Thinking:

1. Specify what does and does not create value from the customer's perspective (this refers to both the internal and external customer).
2. Identify the necessary steps across the whole value stream to highlight non-value adding waste.
3. Make the actions that create value flow with no interruptions, detours, backflows, waiting or errors.
4. Make only what is pulled by the customer (internal or external).
5. Strive for perfection – continually remove successive layers of waste.

These philosophies are fundamental to the elimination of waste in your organisation, yet they are simple enough to become a guide for the travellers embarking on the Lean Journey. In order to understand the customers and what their needs are, you need to define the Value Streams within your organisation. You will then be in a position to eliminate, or at least reduce, the wastes that your customers and stakeholders do not wish to pay for.

Lean Value Stream Mapping is an essential tool in this process. The principles above and the definition of the Value Streams cannot be achieved unless the current state is mapped. Once a current state map has been drawn, you will be in a position to analyse your current process and identify the areas requiring attention, in line with your business objectives. Lean Value Stream Mapping is presented by CCIG in an understandable format for the organisation ready to take their fundamental steps towards Lean. The offering is based on the principles encouraged by the Lean Enterprise Institute, and although we have available a generic offering it is our objective to be flexible to our client's needs, and therefore customisation is possible.

Please feel free to contact us at info@cci-growthcon.com should you require additional assistance in your Lean Journey.