An introduction to Value Stream Maps (VSM), a Lean tool used for tracking various elements within the steps of a process.

1. Section & Lesson #:
Pre-Requisite Lessons:
Complex Tools + Clear Teaching = Powerful Results
Value Stream Maps
Lean – Lesson 12
An introduction to Value Stream Maps, a Lean tool used for tracking
various elements within the steps of a process.
Lean #04 – Value Added vs. Non Value Added
Lean #07 – Work in Process (WIP)
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photographic, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.

2. o What is a value stream map (VSM)?
• Like a process map, a VSM diagrams the flow of a process.
• VSMs differ from process maps in these ways:
 They neither diagram decision points nor detailed process steps (the process steps are usually grouped).
 They focus primarily on the timeliness (efficiency) within the flow of products through the process.
 They track VA & NVA steps, process cycle times, takt time, inventory, staffing, etc.
 They generally focus on the overall process (beginning/ending with customer) rather than sub-processes.
• VSMs are ideal when tracking tangible items through a process.
 They’re ideal for products or transactions, but not highly variable, intangible items like customer calls.
• Below is a generic example of a VSM with the various parts identified:
Value Stream Maps
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
2
Usually represents the customer or
supplier who interact with the process.
Items in queue or inventory (WIP).
Key process elements with the
cycle time and # of operators.
Cycle time for NVA portion of process.
Cycle time for VA portion of process.
Despite the many types of shapes in a
VSM, these are the most common:

3. Value Stream Maps (Example)
o Below is an example of a VSM used for processing Travel transactions:
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
3
Current (As Is) State Problem:
•Avg 4 days to process travel voucher
•1% of vouchers were misrouted/lost
•23% of vouchers were duplicates
•4% of duplicates were paid in error
•Received ~30K travel calls/mo
VP’s Original Solution:
•Add more operators to the existing process
Future (To Be) State Solution:
•Modified process for 13 of the operators
•Significantly reduced wait time, motion, & defects
Results/Benefits:
•Reduced process time from 4 days to 8 hrs
•Reduced wait time from 5+ hrs to less than 1 hr
•Reduced travel call volume by 25%
•Eliminated duplicate vouchers (via poka-yoke)

4. Practical Application
o Identify at least one process you interact with regularly that has many sub-processes
with measurable steps.
• Build a VSM for the process.
 Be sure to track every critical process step and their value-added vs. non-value-added cycle times.
 Notate any inventory (i.e., WIP) at each process step and the number of operators and the amount of time
those operators spend at each process step.
 Include any additional information that could help in measuring each process step.
• What process steps appear to have the most non-value-added cycle times?
• What process steps appear to have the most inventory or WIP (an indication of a bottle neck)?
• What opportunities are there to streamline the process and how much more efficient could it be?
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
4