 What
is Value Stream Mapping?
It is the ability of your
business to distinguish between these processes and visibly
illustrate and understand their effect that will enable you
to develop a strategic approach and continuous improvement.
So, how can your business achieve this? An effective
way is to undertake a Value Stream Mapping Activity.
This is a structured event over 15 days that
will teach your team the step by step approach to identifying
and prioritising tangible improvement activities.
"By
understanding the whole process from raw material to finished
part we will be able to see where we can remove waste."
Phil Worrall Manuf Eng Mgr Automotive Products UK Ltd
Why
the need for Value Stream Mapping?
To be successful your business must continually strive
to be competitive. To achieve this, you must set targets for
improvement in every area of the business. In many cases,
it is relatively simple to make an instant cost saving. What
is much more important however is ongoing cost reduction.
There is rarely an understanding of the effect an improvement
will have on the internal value stream.
Worse still, a high level of resource is allocated
to achieve an improvement that has no impact on the overall
performance of the business. The reasons for this are simple:
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Little understanding of the
effect that a process has on those upstream or downstream.
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Many businesses are managed as a series
of departmental groups rather than as a manufacturing
process. |
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Efficiency is measured as a function of
manufacturing speed, rather than the total effect of the
processes and delays during manufacture. |
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Stock locations are created to absorb inefficiencies
and become accepted as part of the process. |
"We see Value Stream
Mapping as the means to prioritise improvement activities
and flow their benefits through to the bottom line"
Adrian Nylan, Quality Manager, Dowty Aerospace Propellers
Value Stream Mapping will help to highlight
these issues. It will aid effective decision making, create
focus for improvement and enable the team to work cohesively
for the benefit of the business.
How
the Value Stream is mapped
The Value Stream Mapping programme developed by SMMT Industry
Forum offers a structured step by step approach. It is a combination
of shopfloor 'learning by doing' and classroom theory. Using
our expertise, your team will learn how to apply tools and
techniques in real situations. Resulting opportunities will
be captured by the team as detailed action plans. Not only
will these prioritise your efforts, they will also form the
basis of a structured approach to continuous improvement.
It is essential that each employee understand
the impact they can have on the competitiveness of the business.
Value Stream Mapping is a key step in that understanding.
The mapping activity encompasses the whole chain
of events from communication with suppliers, to delivery of
the finished product to the customer.
"The important thing
with VSM is that it captures all processes in the business."
Carl Laxton, Operations Director, Automotive Products UK Ltd.
How
can you benefit from Value Stream Mapping?
Value Stream Mapping focuses on the design of the production
system. To be competitive you must eliminate wasteful interruptions
to product flow, reducing your production lead times to a
minimum.
Your business will benefit in a number of ways:
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A greater understanding of
product cost |
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A clear picture of manufacturing processes |
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A reduction in work in progress (WIP) |
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A reduction in production lead-time |
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Faster response to demand charges |
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Faster response to quality concerns |
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An emphasis on 'pull' from the customer |
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An increase in value added contribution |
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Standardisation of the production process |
"It's only
when you go to finite detail that you realise what's actually
going on."
Phil Worrall, Manufacturing Enginering Manager, Automotive
Products UK Ltd
How
to get involved
A 'Value Stream' is all of the actions necessary
to take the product from raw material to a saleable item within
your business. However, your business and its Value Stream,
is only one part of the Total Value Stream. It would of course
be unrealistic to attempt to influence the Total Value Stream
in one single event.
As your team's confidence and expertise grow
they will be able to assist your suppliers in understanding
and improving their own Value Streams. Thus eventually impacting
on the Total Value Stream.
The programmes we have developed
represent a unique opportunity for the British supply industry
to be the first to apply global best practice consistently
through the entire supply chain and gain a real competitive
edge in the world market. These are programmes your company
needs, right now.
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