What is VSM (Value Stream Mapping)?
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 7:14 am
Value stream mapping or VSM means value stream mapping and is a tool used to improve processes in the development stages of a product or service . VSM provides a holistic view of a production process, from the beginning to delivery to the end user.
Because of this complete visualization, value stream mapping helps in:
Identification of waste at each stage of the process;
Creation of strategies to optimize resources;
Optimization of financial and time investments;
Quality and efficiency of processes;
Product value delivery .
Thus, through VSM, it is possible to separate what adds value to the flow and what should be discarded from the process , with the aim of reducing waste as much as possible and increasing the efficiency of the product development process as a whole.
This process is iterative and continuous and must be revisited freq why you should take our service uently, with the aim of increasingly improving the value flow of a production process.
How did VSM come about?
Value stream mapping emerged from the Lean Manufacturing philosophy , which in simple terms, is a management framework that focuses on creating maximum value for the user with the lowest possible waste rate.
In turn, Lean management originated in the period after the Second World War, with Toyota leading a revolution in the manufacturing and manufacturing industry and proposing this productive management process.
Today VSM can be applied in several industries, including the development of digital products.
Types of waste that VSM helps to avoid
Lean management presents seven types of waste that can be avoided within a production process. In a VSM framework, these wastes can also be prevented, adding even more value to value stream mapping.
They are:
Overproduction : refers to excessive production, when it is not yet known whether or not it will be necessary to produce.
Waiting time : delays, rework and anything that could harm the efficiency of operations.
Transportation : unnecessary investments in movements in the production process.
Excess processing : is the excess in development efforts, where time and resources are invested in features or solutions that have no perceived value to the end user.
Inventory : these are items, features, resources and materials that are already ready but are waiting for action and can hinder processes.
Movement : represents frequent and unnecessary changes of focus on the production line.
Defects : problems and errors in the product that require review and rework.
Importance and benefits of Value Stream Mapping
VSM is very important in a production process, as it helps to analyze and identify the best opportunities to optimize the product creation process, reducing waste and increasing process efficiency.
This tool can measure the value flow of the process from its conception to delivery to the end customer. Thus, value stream mapping can significantly improve the development stages of a digital product.
Some benefits of VSM are:
Ensures a holistic view of the production process
One of the great advantages of VSM is the ability to fully visualize the production process. This optimizes workflows and provides efficiency at every stage of the process, since everything is mapped from start to finish.
Identifies bottlenecks
Another benefit of value stream mapping is the possibility of identifying bottlenecks in the process and highlighting what does not add value to the flow, in order to then think of strategies to increase process efficiency.
An example in the context of digital products is the possibility of detecting which features do not add much value to the user, deprioritizing them in the backlog .
Reduces waste
In the production process, by identifying waste, it is possible to think of strategies to reduce it by focusing on the efficiency of the processes at each stage of the development of the product or service.
Using the previous example, one possible action would be to analyze which product features should be prioritized and can add more value to the end user, redirecting resources and time invested to what really matters.
Optimizes time and resources and improves decision making
VSM enables mapping of the current state of the production process, as well as the future state , which will be the final result.
This mapping makes it possible to optimize resources, efforts and time , ensuring greater efficiency throughout the production chain and guiding more assertive decisions by managers.
How to do value stream mapping?
To start applying value stream mapping in a production process, some steps must be considered, such as:
Defining the scope of Value Stream Mapping
Defining the scope and objectives of the VSM is the first step in this process. This is where the product groups to be mapped or the limits of value mapping within the context of the product will be defined.
In other words, it is time to define whether you intend to use VSM to launch a new functionality, identify a need or increase the efficiency of cycle times.
Therefore, this moment is crucial to collect process data and evaluate factors such as:
Waiting time;
Cycle time;
Materials;
Information about the flow, among others.
Mapping the current state of the process
Another essential step of VSM is mapping the current state of the process . This state refers to the actual context in which the mapping process began.
This step serves as a basis for evaluating the VSM at the end of the process and understanding the results generated from value stream mapping.
Here, you must analyze how the product being mapped is currently located, what processes are adopted, the resources used and all other relevant information to understand the current production line.
This information will facilitate the structuring of the production process to date and future analyses after the completion of the VSM.
Identifying bottlenecks and waste
Once you have the necessary information about the current value stream process, you will be able to identify bottlenecks and waste in that process.
Determining them is essential to understanding what can be improved in value stream mapping.
At this stage, it is important to ask questions such as:
What resources can be better utilized?
What are the lead times and cycle times?
Which features are underused?
Are there excessive costs?
What are the bottlenecks in team communication?
Which demands present delays or rework?
Additionally, the Lean management waste classification mentioned above can be used to categorize the types of waste identified in this process.
Because of this complete visualization, value stream mapping helps in:
Identification of waste at each stage of the process;
Creation of strategies to optimize resources;
Optimization of financial and time investments;
Quality and efficiency of processes;
Product value delivery .
Thus, through VSM, it is possible to separate what adds value to the flow and what should be discarded from the process , with the aim of reducing waste as much as possible and increasing the efficiency of the product development process as a whole.
This process is iterative and continuous and must be revisited freq why you should take our service uently, with the aim of increasingly improving the value flow of a production process.
How did VSM come about?
Value stream mapping emerged from the Lean Manufacturing philosophy , which in simple terms, is a management framework that focuses on creating maximum value for the user with the lowest possible waste rate.
In turn, Lean management originated in the period after the Second World War, with Toyota leading a revolution in the manufacturing and manufacturing industry and proposing this productive management process.
Today VSM can be applied in several industries, including the development of digital products.
Types of waste that VSM helps to avoid
Lean management presents seven types of waste that can be avoided within a production process. In a VSM framework, these wastes can also be prevented, adding even more value to value stream mapping.
They are:
Overproduction : refers to excessive production, when it is not yet known whether or not it will be necessary to produce.
Waiting time : delays, rework and anything that could harm the efficiency of operations.
Transportation : unnecessary investments in movements in the production process.
Excess processing : is the excess in development efforts, where time and resources are invested in features or solutions that have no perceived value to the end user.
Inventory : these are items, features, resources and materials that are already ready but are waiting for action and can hinder processes.
Movement : represents frequent and unnecessary changes of focus on the production line.
Defects : problems and errors in the product that require review and rework.
Importance and benefits of Value Stream Mapping
VSM is very important in a production process, as it helps to analyze and identify the best opportunities to optimize the product creation process, reducing waste and increasing process efficiency.
This tool can measure the value flow of the process from its conception to delivery to the end customer. Thus, value stream mapping can significantly improve the development stages of a digital product.
Some benefits of VSM are:
Ensures a holistic view of the production process
One of the great advantages of VSM is the ability to fully visualize the production process. This optimizes workflows and provides efficiency at every stage of the process, since everything is mapped from start to finish.
Identifies bottlenecks
Another benefit of value stream mapping is the possibility of identifying bottlenecks in the process and highlighting what does not add value to the flow, in order to then think of strategies to increase process efficiency.
An example in the context of digital products is the possibility of detecting which features do not add much value to the user, deprioritizing them in the backlog .
Reduces waste
In the production process, by identifying waste, it is possible to think of strategies to reduce it by focusing on the efficiency of the processes at each stage of the development of the product or service.
Using the previous example, one possible action would be to analyze which product features should be prioritized and can add more value to the end user, redirecting resources and time invested to what really matters.
Optimizes time and resources and improves decision making
VSM enables mapping of the current state of the production process, as well as the future state , which will be the final result.
This mapping makes it possible to optimize resources, efforts and time , ensuring greater efficiency throughout the production chain and guiding more assertive decisions by managers.
How to do value stream mapping?
To start applying value stream mapping in a production process, some steps must be considered, such as:
Defining the scope of Value Stream Mapping
Defining the scope and objectives of the VSM is the first step in this process. This is where the product groups to be mapped or the limits of value mapping within the context of the product will be defined.
In other words, it is time to define whether you intend to use VSM to launch a new functionality, identify a need or increase the efficiency of cycle times.
Therefore, this moment is crucial to collect process data and evaluate factors such as:
Waiting time;
Cycle time;
Materials;
Information about the flow, among others.
Mapping the current state of the process
Another essential step of VSM is mapping the current state of the process . This state refers to the actual context in which the mapping process began.
This step serves as a basis for evaluating the VSM at the end of the process and understanding the results generated from value stream mapping.
Here, you must analyze how the product being mapped is currently located, what processes are adopted, the resources used and all other relevant information to understand the current production line.
This information will facilitate the structuring of the production process to date and future analyses after the completion of the VSM.
Identifying bottlenecks and waste
Once you have the necessary information about the current value stream process, you will be able to identify bottlenecks and waste in that process.
Determining them is essential to understanding what can be improved in value stream mapping.
At this stage, it is important to ask questions such as:
What resources can be better utilized?
What are the lead times and cycle times?
Which features are underused?
Are there excessive costs?
What are the bottlenecks in team communication?
Which demands present delays or rework?
Additionally, the Lean management waste classification mentioned above can be used to categorize the types of waste identified in this process.