Value Stream Mapping

Summary

Mapping the full flow of a process from start to finish, specifically highlighting which steps add value for the customer and which are waste — a Lean technique for spotting inefficiency at a glance.

• 1Build a simple value stream map for a process, marking each step as value-add or waste.
• 2Learn why waiting time between steps is often the biggest hidden inefficiency in a process.
• 3Calculate a rough 'process efficiency' ratio: value-add time versus total time.